@article{ref1,
title="Falls in the elderly in the community: Prevalence, consequences, and associated factors",
journal="Atencion Primaria",
year="2006",
author="Varas-Fabra, Francisco and Castro Martín, Estrella and Pérula de Torres, L. A. and Fernández Fernández, Maria Jesus and Ruiz Moral, Roger and Enciso Berge, Isabel",
volume="38",
number="8",
pages="450-455",
abstract="OBJECTIVE. To find the prevalence, characteristics, and consequences of falls in the elderly and related factors. DESIGN. Cross-sectional, descriptive study using personal interviews. SETTING. Three health districts in Cordoba city, Spain. PARTICIPANTS. A stratified sample of 362 people over 70. MAIN MEASUREMENTS. The assessment tools were the WHO questionnaire for the study of falls and the EuroQol-5D for the measurement of health-related quality of life. Uni-bivariate and multivariate analyses (P< .05) were run. RESULTS. The prevalence of falls was 31.78% (95% CI, 26.99%-36.6%); 12.98% of subjects had more than one fall in the previous year; 55.3% of falls happened at home; 71.8% of the falls had physical consequences, with 7.8% fractures; 44.7% of the elderly studied were scared of having a new fall, and 22% limited their mobility after the fall. In 30% of cases there was contact with the health system, and 3.3% needed hospital admission. The factors related to a greater risk of falls were: being older, being a woman, widowed, uneducated, with difficulties in moving both arms, suffering space disorientation, high drug consumption, and having worse perceived health status. CONCLUSIONS. Falls in the elderly living in the community are a frequent problem, with important physical, psychological and social consequences.<p /> <p>Language: es</p>",
language="es",
issn="0212-6567",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}