Impact of dietary sodium restriction on falls among middle‐aged and older adults: Results of an 8‐year longitudinal study

Abstract

AimThis study aimed to understand the relationship between dietary sodium restriction (DSR) and falling experiences in middle‐aged and older adults.MethodsThe 8‐year follow‐up data from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging, covering 5131 individuals aged ≥50 years, were analyzed using random‐effects panel logit models. Participants were asked to indicate whether they were told by a physician to reduce or avoid sodium intake from food and whether they had had fall experiences during the past year. We modelled falling experiences as a function of DSR (independent variable), involuntary body weight loss and walking difficulty (mediators), and chronic diseases (moderator), adjusting for individual‐level characteristics.ResultsIndividuals with DSR were at a higher risk of falls compared with those with no DSR (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11–1.53). This effect was more prevalent in individuals with a history of stroke (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.19–2.87). Those told to reduce sodium intake by a physician were likely to lose weight involuntarily (AOR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.05–1.36) and had difficulty walking up two or three flights of stairs alone (AOR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.73–3.27), which mediated the effect of DSR on increased fall risk (AOR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.95–1.38). We found a temporal effect: participant reactions to short‐ and mid‐term DSR were significant.ConclusionsDSR was associated with a greater likelihood of falls among middle‐aged and older adults, particularly those with a history of stroke. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; ••: ••–••.