Prevalência de quedas e fatores associados em idosos na cidade de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais

Abstract

The falls appear as one of the main damage that affects the health of the elderly, being responsible for the decline of the functional capacity and the life quality of the individual. Moreover, they are also important predictors of mortality. These events are responsible for high social costs and the increase of the demand for health services, among the main consequences of the fall it should be noted: fractures, head injuries, serious injuries, anxiety, depression and fear of falling. The aim of this present study was to verify the prevalence of falls and analyze the factors related to them. This is a cross-sectional study done through the domicile survey with a sample consisting of 420 elderly people whose collection of data was done between March and July in 2010. The accessible population was consisted of individuals with 60 years old or over this age, of both sexes, non-institutionalized, residents in the northern district of Juiz de Fora. For the analysis of factors associated with the occurrence of falls, presence or absence in the last 12 months, we built a theoretical model for determining three hierarchical blocks of variables which were adjusted each one in every block, at first. The data were processed on a database created through the software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), in its complex analysis module, version 14.0, being the study significance level of 5%. The use of the Software Stata 9.2 allowed the different analysis to verify the association between each one of the independent variables and the dependent variable, through the use of the chi-square test (c ²). It was estimated PR crude and adjusted by Poisson regression, having as reference a theoretical model of determination with hierarchical blocks. The level of significance was tested, using the Wald tests for the heterogeneity and linear tendency. The prevalence of the falls among the elderly was 32.1% (CI95% = 27,7; 36,9). Among those who suffered fall, 53.3% had a unique fall and 18.5% had fracture as consequence. Most of the falls, 59.17%, happened in the own elderly home. The prevalence of the falls associated with people who are over 80 years old PRadjusted (CI95%) = 2,68 (1,0;7,22), females PRadjusted (CI95%) = 1,89 (1,04; 3,47), need for help to locomotion for human help PRadjusted (CI95%) = 3,68 (1,2; 11,34) or by auxiliary device PRadjusted (CI95%) = 5,8 (1,32; 11,34) and selfreferred diagnosis of osteoporosis PRadjusted (CI95%) = 2,06 (1,07; 3,96). These data call our attention to the need for policies and health public actions focused on this population, with emphasis on educational actions, preventive and promotion to the health, which allow the identification of factors associated with effective multi professional interventions in the potential consequences, because of the falls, changing, thus the current situation.