Accidental falls in the elderly and their relation with functional capacity

Authors

  • Jack Roberto Silva Fhon Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener; Escuela Académico Profesional de Enfermería
  • Suzele Cristina Coelho Fabrício-Wehbe Centro Universitário Barão de Mauá
  • Thais Ramos Pereira Vendruscolo Centro Universitário Barão de Mauá
  • Renata Stackfleth Centro Universitário Barão de Mauá
  • Sueli Marques Universidade de São Paulo; Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto
  • Rosalina Aparecida Partezani Rodrigues Universidade de São Paulo; Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692012000500015

Keywords:

Aged, Accidental Falls, Activities of Daily Living, Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

AIM: This study aimed to determinate the prevalence of falls in the elderly and its relationship with the functional capacity. METHOD: This is an epidemiological and cross-sectional study; a two-stage cluster sample of 240 male and female subjects aged over 60 years was used. Data were collected from November 2010 to February 2011. The following questionnaires were used: socio-demographic profile, assessment of falls, Functional Independence Measure, Lawton and Brody Scale. Significance was set at 0.05. To identify the occurrence of falls and their relation with functional capacity, the prevalence ratio and prevalence odds ratios were used, as well as multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Average age was 73.5 years (±8.4); 25% 80 years or more, with preponderance of female gender; 48.8% attended school between 1-4 years. The average was 1.33 falls (±0.472), with prevalence in women and elderly between 60 and 79 years old; the most frequently sites were the backyard and bathroom. Strong correlation between the level of functional independence and instrumental activities and age was found, but no relation between elderly victims of falls and the gender and age variables. CONCLUSION: Women who suffered falls related to functional independence were predominant, which can be prevented through elderly health promotion strategies, a policy that serves to offer living conditions to people in the aging process.

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Published

2012-10-01

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 5 (2012)

Section

Original Articles

License

RLAE’s authorship concept is based on the substantial contribution by each of the individuals listed as authors, mainly in terms of conceiving and planning the research project, collecting or analyzing and interpreting data, writing and critical review. Indication of authors’ names under the article title is limited to six. If more, authors are listed on the online submission form under Acknowledgements. The possibility of including more than six authors will only be examined on multicenter studies, considering the explanations presented by the authors.
Including names of authors whose contribution does not fit into the above criteria cannot be justified. Those names can be included in the Acknowledgements section.
 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

Accidental falls in the elderly and their relation with functional capacity. (2012). Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 20(5), 927-934. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692012000500015