Behavior of falls in older adults admitted geriatric service

Abstract

Introduction: falls in the elderly are frequently increasing in society, given the process of population aging. Objective: to characterize the behavior of falls in a group of older adults admitted Geriatric Service at Dr. Leon Cuervo Rubio Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital in Pinar del Río, between 2013-2017. Methods: an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out in the geriatric service at Dr. León Cuervo Rubio Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital, in Pinar del Río, between 2013 and 2017. From a target group of 280 older adults who suffered falls, a simple random sample of 179 was chosen. The study of clinical histories and applied instruments allowed obtaining information that gave way out to the variables in study. Results: female sex, age group ≥ 80 years, individuals with functional independence, as well as those with low risk of falls predominated. High level of comorbidities and polypharmacy were associated with the emergence of falls; being within the extrinsic factors of falls, inadequate lighting and the use of support accessories, being cardiovascular, urological and muscular-skeletal disorders the main intrinsic factors found. Conclusions: the main characteristics of older adults were identified, including extrinsic and intrinsic factors associated with the risk of falls and among them polypharmacy and comorbidities present in the elderly, which will allow establishing strategies to reduce the occurrence of falls in this vulnerable population group, achieving a better quality of life.

Keywords

• ancianos
• accidentes
• familia
• envejecimiento, factor de riesgo.