Evaluation of The Risk of Falls in A Group of Older Adults: A Study in A Community in Paraíba

Abstract

Introduction: Falls become more common with each year of aging of the elderly population, often causing irreparable consequences and becoming a public health problem. Objective: To evaluate the sociodemographic profile and prevalence of falls, as well as their perception of the fear of falling, in members of a group of elderly people at UBS Metódio de Araújo Leitão. Material and methods: To assess the risk of falls, the Downton and FES-I scales were used, analyzing intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to this risk. Material and methods: Interviews were carried out to understand the situations and social contexts of this population, as well as assessment with relevant clinical information, such as medical history, comorbidities, and use of medications. The data was statistically analyzed to identify fall risk patterns and associated factors. Results: The average age established was 72.3 years (SD=5.47), and the variable “age group” was dichotomized around the median (72 years), with a predominance of females 13/15 (86.7 %), widowers 7/15 (50.0%), of which 10/15 (66.7%) are retired, who have an average income of up to one minimum wage 8/15 (53.03%), and live alone 6/15 (40.0%). After applying the Downton Scale to the sample, it was found that 8/15 (53.7%) of the participants had a low risk of falls, while 7/15 (46.7%) were categorized as having a high risk, mainly due to conditions such as hypertension (use of hypotensive drugs) and vision problems (use of glasses). The FES-I tool showed that the majority of participants 10/15 (66.7%) had a mild limitation in relation to the fear of falling during activities of daily living. This suggests that these individuals have moderate concerns or occasionally think about the possibility of falling, but still maintain a reasonable ability to carry out their activities without major interference from fear. Final considerations: The profile of elderly people who have suffered falls involves multiple factors, demonstrating the need for constant changes in the environment in which the elderly person lives, as well as broad and comprehensive prevention on the part of themselves and their family members.