TY - JOUR PY - 2017// TI - Individual and contextual characteristics of indoor and outdoor falls in older residents of Sao Paulo, Brazil JO - Archives of gerontology and geriatrics A1 - do Nascimento, Carla Ferreira A1 - Oliveira Duarte, Yeda Aparecida A1 - Lebrao, Maria Lucia A1 - Porto Chiavegatto Filho, Alexandre Dias SP - 119 EP - 125 VL - 68 IS - N2 - PURPOSE of the study: To analyze a representative sample of older individuals of Sao Paulo, Brazil, according to outdoor fallers, indoor fallers and non-fallers, and to identify biological and socioeconomic (individual and contextual) factors associated with the occurrence and place of falls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data (n = 1345) from the 2010 wave of the Health, Wellbeing and Aging (SABE) Study, a representative sample of older residents (60 years and older) of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Multinomial logistic analysis was performed to identify individual factors associated with the occurrence and place of falls, and multilevel multinomial analysis to identify contextual effects (green areas, violence, presence of slums and income inequality).

RESULTS: 29% had a fall in the last 12 months, with 59% occurring in indoor spaces. Individuals who had outdoor falls were overall not statistically different from non-fallers; on the other hand, those who had the last fall indoor had worse health status. Moderate homicide rate was a factor associated with increased presence of indoor falls, compared with non-fallers. Implications: Our results describe the importance of falls, a common problem in active and community-dwelling older adults of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Transforming outdoor spaces into walk-friendly areas is essential to allow socialization and autonomy with safety. Creating strategies that take into account the most vulnerable populations, as those who live in violent areas and the oldest older adults, will be a growing challenge among developing countries. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0167-4943 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2016.10.004 ID - ref1 ER -