Falls in older adults: associated factors in a cross-sectional study conducted at a Primary Health Care Unit in southern Brazil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5712/rbmfc21(48)5139Keywords:
Older adults, Accidental falls, Risk factorAbstract
Introduction: Falls in older adults are a significant public health problem, leading to a loss of independence and increasing the risk of hospitalization. Identifying risk factors is essential to guide prevention strategies in primary health care. Objective: To identify and analyze the main risk factors associated with falls in older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 older adults who visited a Basic Health Unit in Alto Vale do Itajaí between August and September 2025. Participants were interviewed at the Unit, providing self-reported data through the International Fall Efficacy Scale, the Morse Fall Risk Scale, and the Strength, Assistance with Walking, Rise from a Chair, Climb Stairs, and Falls questionnaire, used for sarcopenia screening. Descriptive statistics were performed, and Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were used for comparisons between groups, with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: Among participants, 36% reported at least one fall in the past year, with 60% caused by slipping. Gender distribution showed a higher prevalence among women, with a prevalence ratio of 2.46. The prevalence of unsteady gait was 4.06, while a positive screening result for sarcopenia had a prevalence ratio of 3.0. Conclusion: Falls in older adults result from multiple interconnected factors, making multidisciplinary prevention strategies essential, with an emphasis on health education, screening for risk factors, and promoting regular physical activity to reduce the incidence of falls and promote active and safe aging.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Laura Luchtenberg Goedert, Mariane Maisa Lembeck, Cristina Bichels Hebeda
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