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[Frequency, characteristics and consequences of falls in a cohort of institutionalized elderly patients]
F Padilla Ruiz1, A Bueno Cavanillas, C Peinado Alonso
1Centro de Salud Salvador Caballero, Granada.
Objective:
Falls in the elderly are a major problem because of their high morbility and mortality rates and health expenditures. However, there are few studies about this problem in our country. The purpose of the present study was to know the frequency, features and consequences of falling among institutionalized elders.
Methods:
We carried out a prospective cohort study using a sample of 190 persons aged 65 years and older living in two nursing homes. All subjects underwent a comprehensive evaluation at the onset of the study. During a mean follow-up period of 310 days, all falls were recorded.
Results:
There were a total of 121 falls in 72 (37.9%) subjects, twenty five of whom (34.7%) experienced two or more falls. The fall incidence per person-year was 0.75. As compared with males, females had a density ratio (DR) of 2 (1.2-3.2; 95% confidence interval-CI). Falling was more frequent in the bedrooms and living rooms (43.8%).
Discussion:
This results agree with others studies about the high fall incidence in the elderly and bring out new features about circumstances and consequences of falls.