0943/2013 - Social and environmental factors associated with the occurrence of falls in older adults.
Fatores socioambientais associados à ocorrência de quedas em idosos.
Publicado
Author:
• Gustavo Nunes Pereira - Pereira, G.N. - Instituto de Geriatria e Gerontologia PUCRS - <gustavojaguarao@hotmail.com>Co-author(s):
• Miriam S.S. Vianna - Vianna MSS - Instituto de Geriatria e Gerontologia PUCRS - <miriam.souza@gmail.com>• Denielli S. Bós - Bós DSG - Instituto de Geriatria e Gerontologia PUCRS - <deni.gbos@gmail.com>
• Joel HN Navarro - Navarro JHN - Instituto de Geriatria e Gerontologia PUCRS - <joelhnn@hotmail.com>
• André Ribeiro - Ribeiro A - Instituto de Geriatria e Gerontologia PUCRS - <fisioandreribeiro@hotmail.com>
• Margarete Diprat Trevisan - Trevisan MD - Instituto de Geriatria e Gerontologia PUCRS - <margadiprat@hotmail.com>
• Patricia Morsch - Morsch, Patricia - Porto Alegre, RS - Instituto de Geriatria e Gerontologia PUCRS - <patriciamorsch@hotmail.com>
• Diene Gomes Colvara Lopes - Lopes DGC - Instituto de Geriatria e Gerontologia PUCRS - <dienegcl@hotmail.com>
• ÂNGELO JOSÉ GONÇALVES BÓS - Bós, A. J. G. - Porto Alegre, RS - Instituto de Geriatria e Gerontologia PUCRS - <angelo.bos@pucrs.br>
Thematic Area:
Saúde do IdosoAbstract:
Objective: To investigate environmental aspects that may be associated with falling in older adults residents in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.Methods: This is a population-based, descriptive, cross-sectional study, with primary data collection, belonging to an epidemiological study called The Older Adults’ profile in the RS state. The study was conducted between the years of 2010 and 2011, with 6751 older adults in 59 cities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul / RS - Brazil. The association between the outcome and the independent variables was verified by univariate and multivariate analysis, to estimate chances of falling, controlling for sex and age.
Results: The frequency of falls was 10.7%. Factors observed to be protective against falling: being male, having higher education, perception of insecurity, lack of seats in public places and participation in social and civic activities. The following were considered risk factors: older age, use of walking aids and participation in community activities. The results remained significant after controlling for demographic factors.
Conclusion: Falling is commonly associated with physical and behavioral aspects; however, social and environmental factors also prove to be significant for this outcome.
