Association between mental health and fall injury in Canadian immigrants and non-immigrants

Accid Anal Prev. 2013 Oct:59:221-6. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2013.06.005. Epub 2013 Jun 14.

Abstract

The study was to determine the association between mental health and the incidence of injury among Canadian immigrants and non-immigrants. We used data from 15,405 individuals aged 12 years or more, who were living in British Columbia, Canada, and participated in the 2007-2008 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). We calculated a 12-month cumulative incidence of fall injury based on self-reporting. Logistic regression model was used to examine the association of the 12-month cumulative incidence of fall injury with immigration status and mental health before and after adjustment for covariates. The results show that self-reported mood and anxiety disorders were significantly associated with an increased incidence of fall injury. The adjusted odds ratios were 1.81 (95% CI: 1.37, 2.38) for mood disorder and 1.55 (95% CI: 1.12, 2.13) for anxiety disorder. Immigrant status was a significant effect modifier for the association between mental health and fall injury, with stronger associations in immigrants than in non-immigrants especially in elderly people. People with poor self perceived health were more likely to have a fall injury. Both mental health and general health were related to fall injury. There was a stronger association between mental health and fall injury in immigrants compared with non-immigrants in the elderly. More attention should be paid to mental health in immigrants associated with fall injury.

Keywords: Age; British Columbia; Canada; Cross-sectional study; Fall injury; Immigration; Injury; Mental health; National survey.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology
  • British Columbia / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Emigrants and Immigrants / psychology
  • Emigrants and Immigrants / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mood Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mood Disorders / psychology
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Report
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Wounds and Injuries / psychology
  • Young Adult