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. 2008 Nov 18;38(8):450–455. [Article in Spanish] doi: 10.1157/13094802

Caídas en ancianos de la comunidad: prevalencia, consecuencias y factores asociados

Falls in the elderly in the community: prevalence, consequences, and associated factors

Francisco Varas-Fabra a, Estrella Castro Martín b, Luis Ángel Pérula de Torres c,⁎, María Jesús Fernández Fernández d, Roger Ruiz Moral b, Isabel Enciso Berge e
PMCID: PMC7668825  PMID: 17194370

Abstract

Objective

To find the prevalence, characteristics, and consequences of falls in the elderly and related factors.

Design

Cross-sectional, descriptive study using personal interviews.

Setting

Three health districts in Cordoba city, Spain.

Participants

A stratified sample of 362 people over 70.

Main measurements

The assessment tools were the WHO questionnaire for the study of falls and the EuroQol-5D for the measurement of health-related quality of life. Uni-bivariate and multivariate analyses (P<.05) were run.

Results

The prevalence of falls was 31.78% (95% CI, 26.99%-36.6%); 12.98% of subjects had more than one fall in the previous year; 55.3% of falls happened at home; 71.8% of the falls had physical consequences, with 7.8% fractures; 44.7% of the elderly studied were scared of having a new fall, and 22% limited their mobility after the fall. In 30% of cases there was contact with the health system, and 3.3% needed hospital admission. The factors related to a greater risk of falls were: being older, being a woman, widowed, uneducated, with difficulties in moving both arms, suffering space disorientation, high drug consumption, and having worse perceived health status.

Conclusions

Falls in the elderly living in the community are a frequent problem, with important physical, psychological and social consequences.

Key words: Falls, Elderly, Prevalence

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