Regional differences regarding the occurrence of falls and associated factors in two populations of Brazilian longevous people

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Silva, Jaiza M. M. ; Freitas, Javanna Lacerda Gomes da Silva ; Nobrega, Julia Cristina Leite ; Medeiros, Juliana Barbosa ; Simoes, Raisa Fernandes Mariz ; Olinda, Ricardo ; Santos, Jair Licio de Ferreira ; Duarte, Yeda Aparecida de Oliveira ; Zatz, Mayana ; Matheson, David ; Santos, Silvana ; Menezes, Tarciana Nobre

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BMC GERIATRICS; v. 22, n. 1, p. 11-pg., 2022-12-02.

Abstract

Background: Few studies have explored regional asymmetries and their implications for health policies regarding episodes of falls among the population of >= 80 years old in continental and developing countries like Brazil with deep inequalities and sociocultural differences.Objective: To evaluate the occurrence of falls and their association with functional capacity and nutritional status in the longest oldest-old living in two municipalities in the Northeast and Southeast of Brazil.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, with primary data collection in which were included in the research seniors aged 80 years or more, of both sexes, belonging to two Brazilian municipalities of discrepant socioeconomic aspects. The dependent variable was the occurrence of falls in the last year. The independent variables were grouped into demographic aspects, functional capacity and nutritional status. To identify variables that contribute to the occurrence of falls, the multiple logistic regression model, adopts a significance level of 5%.Results: The sample was composed of 415 oldest-old adults. From the total, 32.3% reported having fallen in the last year, 24.7% in Brejo dos Santos and 37.8% in S & atilde;o Paulo. Among the former population, the mean value of walking speed for those who had falls was 0.27 m/s and for those who had no occurrence of falls was 0.33 m/s; and, among the seniors from S & atilde;o Paulo, the mean values were 0.51 m/s and 0.58 m/s, respectively. Significant correlations between walking speed and falls were verified for both populations, showing that the lower the walking speed, the higher the predisposition to falls. In the final regression model, the occurrence of falls was associated with moderate balance (OR = 5.28; CI: 1.11-25.18) among the longevous people Brejo dos Santos and with very poor functional performance (OR = 16.09; CI:1.46-177.06) among those from S & atilde;o Paulo. Conclusion: The results pointed out a lower prevalence of falls in longevous people from Brejo dos Santos than in those from S & atilde;o Paulo and differences regarding the associated factors, showing heterogeneity between the two populations; indicating the need for public policies and effective programmes aimed at preventing falls based on the maintenance or increase of functional capacity. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50931-3 - Aging and genetic disorders: genomics and metagenomics
• Grantee: Mayana Zatz
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/08028-1 - CEGH-CEL - Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center
• Grantee: Mayana Zatz
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 09/53778-3 - SABE Study 2010: Health, well-being and aging
• Grantee: Maria Lúcia Lebrão
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 05/54947-2 - SABE study - 2005: well-being and ageing: longitudinal study of living conditions and health of elderly in the municipality of São Paulo
• Grantee: Ruy Laurenti
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants