Risk factors for future falls among community-dwelling older adults without a fall in the previous year: A prospective one-year longitudinal study

Author(s)

Porto, Jaqueline Mello ^[1] ; Rodrigues Iosimuta, Natalia Camargo ^[2] ; Freire Junior, Renato Campos ^[3] ; Brunelli Braghin, Roberta de Matos ^[1] ; Leitner, Erika ^[1] ; Freitas, Lara Goncalves ^[1] ; Carvalho de Abreu, Daniela Cristina ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Hlth Sci, Rehabil & Funct Performance Program, Bandeirantes Ave, 3900 Ribeirao Preto, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Amapa, Dept Hlth & Biol Sci, Km 02, BR-68903419 Macapa, AP - Brazil

^[3] Fed Univ Amazonas UFAM, Fac Phys Educ & Physiotherapy, Gen Rodrigo Octcivio Ave 6200, BR-69080900 Manaus, Amazonas - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS; v. 91, NOV-DEC 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Introduction: One of the main risk factor for falls is a history of falls itself. Henceforth, preventing a fall is an important strategy for the prevention of new ones. The objective of the present study was to determine whether personal self-perception questions and functional tests might represent risk factors for a fall during the year following a year without any falls among independent community-dwelling older adults, considering a period of 12 prospective months. Methods: A total of 101 community-dwelling older adults without a fall in the previous year underwent an initial evaluation (sample characterization, self-perception questionnaire and functional tests) and monthly monitoring of prospective fall episodes by telephone contact. We determined the association between the occurrence of prospective falls (dependent variable) and personal questions and functional tests (independent variables) with multiple binary logistic regression adjusted for confounding variables. Results: Only age (p = 0.005) and self-perception of general health (p = 0.019) showed association with the occurrence of prospective falls. Conclusion: Our results showed that the only factors bearing an association with the occurrence of prospective falls were age and general health self-perception, which demonstrates the importance of administrating self-perception measures in clinical practice or in epidemiological studies for the prevention of a fall during the year following a year without any falls in older adults. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/07606-0 - Evaluation of Static and Dynamic balance and biomechanical aspects in women aged 60-74 years
• Grantee: Daniela Cristina Carvalho de Abreu
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants