[Falls in the elderly in the community: prevalence, consequences, and associated factors].
OBJECTIVE
To find the prevalence, characteristics, and consequences of falls in the elderly and related factors. DESIGN. Cross-sectional, descriptive study using personal interviews.


METHODS
Three health districts in Cordoba city, Spain.


METHODS
A stratified sample of 362 people over 70.


METHODS
The assessment tools were the WHO questionnaire for the study of falls and the EuroQol-5D for the measurement of health-related quality of life. Uni-bivariate and multivariate analyses (P< .05) were run.


RESULTS
The prevalence of falls was 31.78% (95% CI, 26.99%-36.6%); 12.98% of subjects had more than one fall in the previous year; 55.3% of falls happened at home; 71.8% of the falls had physical consequences, with 7.8% fractures; 44.7% of the elderly studied were scared of having a new fall, and 22% limited their mobility after the fall. In 30% of cases there was contact with the health system, and 3.3% needed hospital admission. The factors related to a greater risk of falls were: being older, being a woman, widowed, uneducated, with difficulties in moving both arms, suffering space disorientation, high drug consumption, and having worse perceived health status.


CONCLUSIONS
Falls in the elderly living in the community are a frequent problem, with important physical, psychological and social consequences.
Varas-Fabra
Francisco
F
Area de Rehabilitación. Servicio de Rehabilitación. Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía. Equipo Móvil de Rehabilitación y Fisioterapia en Domicilio. Distrito Sanitario de Córdoba. Córdoba. España.
Castro Martín
Estrella
E
Pérula de Torres
Luis Angel
LA
Fernández Fernández
María Jesús
MJ
Ruiz Moral
Roger
R
Enciso Berge
Isabel
I
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires