Abstract
Objective: to identify the factors associated with the risk of falls in institutionalized elderly. Methods: analytical study carried out in two long-stay institutions for the elderly, with 61 residents of both sexes. Data collection was performed by means of a socio-demographic and clinical form and Downton’s Fall Risk Index. Results: 31 (50.8%) old people at high risk of falling were identified. There was an association of risk for falls in institutionalized elderly with gender (p=0.007), age (p=0.004), time of institutionalization (p=0.028), adverse events (p=0.000), use (p=0.035) and number of drugs (p=0.038), use of auxiliary equipment (p=0.022), type of walking (p=0.044) and history of falls in the last 12 months (p=0.000). Conclusion: it is recognized as essential to identify factors associated with the occurrence of falls for the prioritization of specific interventions aimed at institutionalized elderly.
Highlights
MethodsThe fastest growing population segment in Brazil is the elderly, with estimated increase of over 4.0% per year in the period from 2012 to 2020
There is the occurrence of falls as predictor of numerous negative outcomes to the health of the elderly, such as functional and cognitive decline, and as the leading cause of unintentional injuries and premature deaths worldwide[2,3]
Institutionalization may be related to various risks for falls with higher prevalence of comorbidities, strong functional and cognitive decline, use of multiple medications, among others[4,5,6,7]
Summary
The fastest growing population segment in Brazil is the elderly, with estimated increase of over 4.0% per year in the period from 2012 to 2020 This fact creates a significant impact on the Brazilian population projection which points that in 2060 there will be about 73.5 million people of this age group in the country[1]. Changes in the population’s age profile associated with epidemiological changes have resulted in numerous challenges to health professionals, especially for the management of diseases related to aging In this regard, there is the occurrence of falls as predictor of numerous negative outcomes to the health of the elderly, such as functional and cognitive decline, and as the leading cause of unintentional injuries and premature deaths worldwide[2,3]. Institutionalization may be related to various risks for falls with higher prevalence of comorbidities, strong functional and cognitive decline, use of multiple medications, among others[4,5,6,7]
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