RESUMO
Introducción: las caídas en los ancianos son un importante problema de salud que se puede prevenir mediante la intervención multifactorial sobre los factores de riesgo. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido conocer la incidencia de caídas en ancianos que viven en la comunidad e identificar los factores de riesgo. Pacientes y métodos: se han evaluado 200 sujetos con una edad ≥ 75 años que acudieron a un ambulatorio y deambulaban sin ayuda, mediante entrevista. Se incluyeron variables sociodemográficas, de salud, sobre las caídas y la utilización de recursos sanitarios. Se realizó un análisis bivariado y las variables significativas entraron en un análisis condicionado de regresión logística. Resultados: la incidencia anual de caídas y de caídas recurrentes fue del 56,5 y del 10,5%, respectivamente. En la regresión logística las caídas se asociaron de forma independiente al consumo de ≥ 3 fármacos (OR = 5,30), a vivir con pareja de edad (OR = 0,37), a las enfermedades circulatorias (OR = 0,29) y los nitratos (OR = 0,21). Las caídas recurrentes se asociaron de forma independiente al cambio de domicilio (OR = 11,10), a vivir con pareja de edad (OR = 0,20), a las enfermedades respiratorias (OR = 6,44), a las enfermedades circulatorias (OR = 0,27) y al uso de laxantes (OR = 9,55). Conclusiones: la incidencia de caídas y de caídas recurrentes en nuestro estudio es similar a la descrita en otros países occidentales. La polifarmacia y el consumo de laxantes son factores de riesgo potencialmente evitables. Convivir con pareja de edad parece proteger de la aparición de caídas en los ancianos que viven en la comunidad (AU)
Introduction: falls in the elderly are a significant health problem that can be prevented once risk factors have been identified. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of falls among elderly persons living in the community and their risk factors. Patients and methods: two hundred ambulatory individuals aged 75 years or older attending an outpatient clinic were evaluated by personal interview. Demographic and social variables, health characteristics, use of healthcare resources and falls were studied. Bivariate analysis was performed and significant variables were entered into a conditional logistic regression analysis. Results: the rate of falls per year was 56.5% and rate of recurrent falls was 10.5%. The factors associated with falls in the logistic regression model were living with a spouse (OR = 0.37), taking three or more drugs (OR = 5.30), cardiovascular diseases (OR = 0.29), and taking nitrates (OR = 0.21). The factors associated with recurrent falls were change of home (OR = 11.10), living with a spouse (OR = 0.20), respiratory (OR = 6.44) and cardiovascular diseases (OR = 0.27), and taking laxatives (OR = 9.55). Conclusions: in our study the rate of falls and recurrent falls was similar to that described in other studies in western countries. Our results suggest that taking at least three medications and the use of laxatives were potentially preventable risk factors. Living with a spouse seemed to protect from both falls and recurrent falls in elderly people living in the community (AU)
