[Prevalence of falls in the elderly living in the community].

OBJECTIVE

To calculate the prevalence of falls, linked factors and their consequences in elderly people >=70 in two communities, prior to an intervention study. DESIGNç Descriptive cross-sectional study.

SETTING

2 mixed urban-rural communities.

PARTICIPANTS

Sample of people >=70, 329 in the intervention group (IG) and 372 in the control group (CG). Randomised and systematic sampling.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

With a 95% confidence interval, we observed the differences between the IG (first) and the CG (second): men, 38.9% (33.6-44.4) and 41.6% (36.6-46.9); mean age, 80.11 (79.49-80.73) and 78.42 (77.77-79.07) years old; over 80, 41.9% (37.4-46.4) and 32.8% (29.5-36); high level of dependence on Katz index, 10.3% (9.2-11.4) and 13.2% (11.9-14.5); 28.9% (25.8-31.9) and 32% (28.8-35.2) had fallen in the preceding year; recurrent falls in people who had already fallen, 34.7% (25.2-45.2) and 37% (28.3-46.3); total number of falls, 166 and 218. Of the total number of falls, 45.4% (37.1-54) and 30.3% (24.3-36.8) required medical care; 7.3% (3.8-12.3) and 5% (2.5-8.8) needed hospital admission; and 10.4% (6-16.3) and 6.9% (3.9-11.2) presented fractures. Falls mainly occurred at home (61% and 56.5%); for reasons of their environment (40% and 54%) and mobility problems (37.5% and 36%). The most common lesions were cuts and bruises (86.1% and 77.9%).

CONCLUSION

In both groups the prevalence of people who had fallen coincided with most other studies. Nor were there relevant differences concerning the main features of the falls and the lesions occasioned.