Sazonalidade climática e ocorrência de quedas em idosos institucionalizados

Abstract

Aging increases the incidence of falls among the elderly due to frailty, decreased self-sufficiency, and difficulties in daily activities. These factors, combined with extrinsic and intrinsic factors, contribute to hospitalizations and admissions to Long-Term Care Institutions. The study aims to evaluate the relationship between climatic seasonality and the incidence of falls among residents of a Long-Term Care Institution for the elderly, to determine which seasonal periods the elderly are more susceptible to falls, and to describe which extrinsic and/or intrinsic factors related to seasonality may be associated with falls. This is a longitudinal and retrospective study conducted at the Lar dos Velhinhos da SSVP in Governador Valadares, MG, through the analysis of medical records of elderly individuals who experienced falls. The results indicated a higher number of falls in autumn, although the city has high temperatures and low rainfall for most of the year. It was observed that most falls occurred in outdoor areas, and the majority of those who fell were using five or more medications. This information may contribute to guiding future research on fall prevention and promoting the health of the elderly, supporting improvements in the professional training of the multidisciplinary team responsible for the Long-Term Care Institutions.