Objective:
Identify the prevalence and factors associated with falls and recurrent falls in a sample of community-dwelling elderly.
Methods:
Cross-sectional, population based study, with participants aged 65 and older. Households were enrolled within each census region according to population density and number of elderly living in each region. It was used a multidimensional questionnaire composed of sociodemographic, clinical, psychological and physical functioning performance data and a battery of physical tests.
Results:
The sample was composed by 391 participants with mean age (SD) of 72.4 (6.0) years. Among the participants, 37.5% reported fall in the last year and 16.5% reported two or more falls. Falling was associated with depressive symptoms (OR=1.96; 95% CI 1.22-3.14, p=0.005); living alone (OR=2.83; 95% CI 1.57-5.12, p<0.001); low self-efficacy for falls (OR=1.77; 95% CI 1.10-2.83, p=0.017) and arthritis (OR=2.10; 95% CI 1.34-3.29, p=0.001). Falling recurrently was associated with: female gender (OR=2.54; 95% CI 1.23-5.21, p=0.011); being 80 years or older (OR=2.30; 95% CI 1.12-4.72, p=0.022); dizziness (OR=1.91; 95% CI 1.04-3.49, p=0.035); living alone (OR=2.57; 95% CI 1.27-5.18, p=0.008); arthritis (OR=1.94; 95% CI 1.07-3.51, p=0.027); and depressive symptoms (OR=2.13 95% CI 1.17-3.88, p=0.013)
Conclusion:
The modifiable factors associated with falls and recurrent falls were living alone, depressive symptoms, low self-efficacy for falls, dizziness and arthritis. We suggest that programs to prevent falls should accomplish these factors.
Elderly; Accidental Falls; Risk Factors; Fall; Recurrent fall
