Evaluation of risk factors for falls in postmenopausal women

• Grant number: 11/19071-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2011
• End date: November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Jorge Nahas Neto
• Grantee: Michelle Sako Omodei
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Loss of balance is a major cause of falls, precipitating factor in 90% of osteoporotic hip fractures. The risk of a woman with 50 years or more to have an osteoporotic fracture during her lifetime is 40%. The fractures have serious consequences in terms of quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. Fall prevention, avoiding fractures, should be a routine aspect of care for postmenopausal women, because approximately one-third of women over the age of 60 years fall at least once a year. Relevant clinical factors include the history of falls, weakness, sarcopenia, dizziness or vestibular problems, limited mobility, arthritis or a visual impairment, and arthritis. Reducing the risk of falling is focused on exercises to improve balance and muscle strength, adjust the medication and reduce the risk of falls at home. So reducing the risk of falling becomes possible as determinants of falls are identified and guidelines are held in the correct approach to postmenopausal women. Objective: To evaluate risk factors for falls in postmenopausal women treated at the outpatient clinic of Botucatu Medical School - UNESP. Specific objectives: to study the incidence of falls in postmenopausal women; to know the most influential risk factors for falls in postmenopausal women; to correlate the use of hormone therapy (HT) to the risk of falls in postmenopausal menopause. It is a clinical, analytical, and transversal study. The sample size of approximately 300 women, was based on the average number of annual medical care with the inclusion criteria proposed by the study. Women are included: (1) with the last menstrual period for at least 12 months and age e 45 years, (2) users and nonusers of HT, (3) with values of bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and neck femur by DXA, the last 12 months, (4) agreed to participate in the interview. And the non-inclusion criteria are (1) the presence of neurological diseases with altered balance, (2) the presence of cognitive impairment, (3) consumptive syndrome, (4) uncontrolled hypertension, (5) alcoholic. Data will be collected through interviews and medical records and clinical evaluation will be conducted and anthropometric measurements.(AU)