TY - JOUR PY - 2020// TI - Characteristics and circumstances of falls in the community-dwelling older adult population JO - Journal of primary care and community health A1 - Molés Julio, María Pilar A1 - Lavedán Santamaría, Ana A1 - Botigué Satorra, Teresa A1 - Masot Ariño, Olga A1 - Esteve Clavero, Aurora A1 - Maciá Soler, María Loreto SP - e2150132720940508 EP - e2150132720940508 VL - 11 IS - N2 - OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to describe the characteristics and circumstances of falls in the community-dwelling older adult population.

DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional observational and descriptive study involving primary health care centers in Lleida and Castellón de la Plana, Spain. Randomized sampling was used to include 966 individuals aged 75 years or older residing in single-family homes and in possession of a health care card. Data were obtained using the Survey on Fragility in Older People in Lleida (FRALLE survey). Study variables included the occurrence of falls in the past year and fall characteristics such as whether it was a first or successive fall, cause, season, and time of the day the fall occurred, whether the respondent fell flat on the ground, and time the participant remained on the floor. Other variables involved the circumstances of the fall, including the general location of the fall and specific location within the home if applicable, lighting/weather conditions, objects which may have precipitated the fall, floor conditions, and type of footwear.

RESULTS: The prevalence of falls was 25.9% with regard to the previous year, with 70% of these participants reporting having fallen previously. Falls most often occurred by accident, during the daytime, and in the winter. Variables that showed statistical significance with regard to age group were: falling flat on the ground (P =.031), fall location (P =.000), presence of an object favoring the fall (P =.039), floor conditions (P =.011), and type of footwear (P =.029). By sex, variables that showed statistical significance included the need for assistance to get up (P =.045) and type of footwear (P =.028).

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of falls was found to be similar in the studied cities. The results show the most common characteristics and circumstances of falls in older adults in the community, making it possible to guide future preventive strategies.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 2150-1319 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2150132720940508 ID - ref1 ER -