title: [A randomized clinical trial of falls and malnutrition prevention in community-dwelling elders aged 85 years old. The OCTABAIX study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People aged 85 years old and older constitute a growing population group. Falls and malnutrition are common in the elderly.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of an individualized multifactorial intervention to reduce falls and malnutrition in community-dwelling persons aged 85 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  The OCTABAIX study is a randomized controlled clinical trial lasting 3 years in primary care in Costa de Ponent (seven primary care teams). Community-dwelling elders born in 1924 who agreed to participate in the study have been included. Three in-home visits will be made annually by a trained nurse or physician and will be complemented by two biannual analytical studies. Participants will be followed-up for hospitalizations, falls and weight using a monthly calendar. The specifically-designed algorithm to detect risk factors for falls and malnutrition will be used to provide recommendations and specific, standardized interventions for risk reduction in a randomly selected intervention group. Two face-to-face interventions will be carried out and telephone calls will be made to reinforce adherence. The control group will follow routine primary care recommendations. The primary outcome is a decline in the rate of falls and malnutrition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The OCTABAIX study aims to reduce the incidence of falls and the risk of malnutrition in the 328 patients included.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The OCTABAIX study will help to determine the characteristics of persons aged 85 years old as well as the rate of falls and nutritional risk. The effectiveness of the measures adopted to reduce these geriatric syndromes will also be assessed.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atención Primaria El Plà, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Barcelona, España. aferrer.cp.ics@gencat.cat
authors.forename: Assumpta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Badia
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Formiga
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Glòria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Padrós
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarró
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Almeda
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pujol
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods