title: [Factors related to falls of elderly women residents in a community].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the factors related to falls of a group of independent and autonomous elderly women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive study of 83 elderly women enrolled on the Elderly Health Promotion Project at the Universidade Católica de Brasília. They replied to questionnaires on their age, sociodemographic factors, dizziness, use of continuous medication, self-perception of health and vision and underwent the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale, Functional Reach Test and Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistical relationship was identified between age, social demographic factors, dizziness, or negative self-perception of health and vision and fall phenomena. However there was a significant statistical relationship with the Functional Reach Test and Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly women's ability to balance was the major factor related to fall events. Functional Reach Test and Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment were considered effective for predicting risk of falling, indicating that they could be used for assessment and identification of improved balance after training
authors.affiliation: Universidade Católica de Brasília.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gai
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Otávio de Toledo
authors.initials: Ode T
authors.lastname: Nóbrega
authors.forename: Marcelo Palmeira
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors