Revista de Saúde Pública (Feb 2012)
Prevalência de quedas e fatores associados em idosos Prevalencia de caídas y factores asociados en ancianos Prevalence of falls and associated factors in elderly individuals
Abstract
OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência de quedas em idosos e analisar fatores associados. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 420 idosos (60 anos ou mais) residentes em Juiz de Fora, MG, em 2010. Foi realizado inquérito domiciliar e descrita a ocorrência de queda nos últimos 12 meses. Para a análise dos fatores associados ao desfecho, foi construído um modelo teórico de determinação com três blocos hierarquizados. As variáveis foram ajustadas entre si dentro de cada bloco; aquelas com nível de significância OBJETIVO: Estimar la prevalencia de caídas en ancianos y analizar factores asociados. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal con 420 ancianos (60 años o más) residentes en Juiz de Fora, Sureste de Brasil, en 2010. Se realizó pesquisa domiciliaria y se describió la ocurrencia de caída en los últimos 12 meses. Para análisis de los factores asociados al resultado, se construyó un modelo teórico de determinación con tres bloques jerarquizados. Las variables fueron ajustadas entre sí dentro de cada bloque; las que presentaron nivel de significancia OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of falls in elderly individuals and to analyze associated factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 420 elderly subjects (aged 60 years or older) living in the city of Juiz de Fora (Southeastern Brazil) in 2010. A household survey was conducted and the occurrence of falls in the 12 previous months was described. For the analysis of factors associated with the outcome, a theoretical determination model with three hierarchical blocks was built. The variables were adjusted among each other within each block; those with level of significance < 0.20 were included in the Poisson regression model and adjusted to the immediately higher level, with 5% significance level. RESULTS: The prevalence of falls among the elderly was 32.1% (95%CI: 27.7; 36.9). Among those who experienced falls, 53% had a single fall and 19% had fractures as a consequence. Most of the falls (59%) occurred at the elderly person's home. The occurrence of falls was associated with old age, female sex, need of help for locomotion and self-reported diagnosis of osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS: Falls are frequent among the elderly. Knowledge of the factors associated with the occurrence of this event can aid the development of prevention strategies and adequate health services.
