Exploring the Association of Injury and Disaster among Older Adults in India: Insight from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), 2017-18

Abstract Introduction Disasters represent an important public health concern for middle-aged and older adults, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where population ageing and disaster risks are increasing simultaneously. Although previous studies have examined the health consequences of disasters, national evidence on the association between injury status and self-reported disaster-related health impacts among older adults in India remains limited. Objective To examine the association between injury status and self-reported disaster-related health impacts among middle-aged and older adults in India. Methods This cross-sectional study utilised data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave 1 (2017-18). A total of 66,200 individuals aged 45 years and above were included in the analysis. The outcome variable was self-reported disaster-related health impacts, defined as severe health effects resulting from natural or human-made disasters during the preceding five years. The primary explanatory variable was injury status, categorised as no injury, fall-related injury, and other injuries. Weighted descriptive statistics and Rao–Scott chi-square tests were used to describe sample characteristics and examine bivariate associations. Binary logistic regression models were fitted to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), controlling for socio-demographic, socioeconomic, behavioural, and health-related characteristics. Results Overall, 3.3% of respondents reported disaster-related health impacts. The prevalence was 2.9% among respondents with no injury, 5.1% among those with fall-related injuries, and 10.2% among those reporting other injuries. After adjustment for potential confounders, respondents with fall-related injuries had significantly higher odds of reporting disaster-related health impacts (AOR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.29–1.69), while those reporting other injuries had more than three times higher odds (AOR = 3.08; 95% CI: 2.64–3.59) than respondents without injuries. Rural residence, lower educational attainment, poor self-rated health, and residence in the central, eastern, north-eastern, and western regions of India were also significantly associated with reporting disaster-related health impacts. Conclusions Injury status was significantly associated with self-reported disaster-related health impacts among middle-aged and older adults in India. Although the cross-sectional design does not permit conclusions about temporal or causal relationships, the findings identify older adults with injuries as a population that reports greater disaster-related health impacts. These findings support the need for age-inclusive disaster preparedness, injury prevention, and resilient public health systems to better address the needs of vulnerable older populations in India.