[Falls in the elderly in the community: prevalence, consequences, and associated factors]

To find the prevalence, characteristics, and consequences of falls in the elderly and related factors. DESIGN. Cross-sectional, descriptive study using personal interviews.

Three health districts in Cordoba city, Spain.

A stratified sample of 362 people over 70.

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.

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.

Falls in the elderly living in the community are a frequent problem, with important physical, psychological and social consequences.