Epidemiology Of Falls In Older Adults In Brazil: An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To conduct an integrative literature review on epidemiology of falls in older adults in Brazil, seeking to identify occurrence rate, recurrence, and potentially modifiable factors associated with these events. METHOD: This literature review consisted of searching the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information (LILACS) databases for scientific articles on November 14, 2017. The following keywords were used for finding articles: “accidental falls,” AND/OR “elderly,” AND/OR “Brazil.” Epidemiological data were collected from primary studies and then compared. RESULTS: Thirty-five studies were selected. Most of them were performed in the Brazilian Southeast (15) and South (11) regions. The occurrence rate of falls ranged from 10.7 to 59.3%. The most common setting for falls was the home during daytime. The most commonly described circumstances were tripping, slipping, dizziness, and uneven flooring, resulting in falling from one’s own height. The factors most frequently associated with falls were female sex, age greater than 80 years, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms. The reported consequences were fractures and fear of falling again. CONCLUSION: As some factors associated with falls in older adults in Brazil are modifiable, fall prevention may reduce morbidity and mortality in this population.

Keywords

• accidental falls
• aged
• brazil
• epidemiology