[Falls in the elderly: knowing to act].
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence of falls and to analyze the associated factors in non institutionalized population aged 65 or older in Catalonia.


METHODS
Data were collected from the 2002 Health Survey of Catalonia. Information on self reported falls according age, sex, educational level, social class, suffering chronic diseases and disabilities in people aged 65 or older (542 men and 665 women) was analyzed. Multivariate logistic analysis was applied.


RESULTS
17.9% of the population aged 65 or older reported falls during the last twelve months. The frequency increases with ageing. To be women, to have university studies, having three or more chronic diseases and two disabilities is associated to a high risk of falling. Comparing 1994 and 2002 Health Surveys of Catalonia, the proportion of elderly people who reported falls has significantly increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Although it is necessary to advance on the knowledge of the risk factors and interventions addressed to prevent and reduce the occurrence of falls in the elderly people, a multifactorial and intersectorial approach seems the most adequate.
Séculi Sánchez
E
E
Subdirección General de Planificación Sanitaria, Departamento de Salud y Seguridad Social, Generalidad de Cataluña, Barcelona, Spain. elisa.seculi@gencat.net
Brugulat Guiteras
P
P
March Llanes
J
J
Medina Bustos
A
A
Martínez Beneyto
V
V
Tresserras Gaju
R
R
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Las caídas en los mayores de 65 años: conocer para actuar.