[Prevalence of falls in the elderly living in the community]

To calculate the prevalence of falls, linked factors and their consequences in elderly people >=70 in two communities, prior to an intervention study. DESIGNç Descriptive cross-sectional study.

2 mixed urban-rural communities.

Sample of people >=70, 329 in the intervention group (IG) and 372 in the control group (CG). Randomised and systematic sampling.

With a 95% confidence interval, we observed the differences between the IG (first) and the CG (second): men, 38.9% (33.6-44.4) and 41.6% (36.6-46.9); mean age, 80.11 (79.49-80.73) and 78.42 (77.77-79.07) years old; over 80, 41.9% (37.4-46.4) and 32.8% (29.5-36); high level of dependence on Katz index, 10.3% (9.2-11.4) and 13.2% (11.9-14.5); 28.9% (25.8-31.9) and 32% (28.8-35.2) had fallen in the preceding year; recurrent falls in people who had already fallen, 34.7% (25.2-45.2) and 37% (28.3-46.3); total number of falls, 166 and 218. Of the total number of falls, 45.4% (37.1-54) and 30.3% (24.3-36.8) required medical care; 7.3% (3.8-12.3) and 5% (2.5-8.8) needed hospital admission; and 10.4% (6-16.3) and 6.9% (3.9-11.2) presented fractures. Falls mainly occurred at home (61% and 56.5%); for reasons of their environment (40% and 54%) and mobility problems (37.5% and 36%). The most common lesions were cuts and bruises (86.1% and 77.9%).

In both groups the prevalence of people who had fallen coincided with most other studies. Nor were there relevant differences concerning the main features of the falls and the lesions occasioned.