Keywords
Older adult
Frailty
Fall risk
How to Cite
Copyright © | All rights reserved.
The journal holds the exclusive copyright for the publication of this article under the terms of Brazilian law 9610/98.
Partial reproduction
The use of parts of the texts, figures and questionnaire of the article is free, being mandatory the citation of the authors and journal.
Total reproduction
It is expressly prohibited and must be authorized by the journal.
Abstract
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of and identify factors associated with functional balance in older adults. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 218 older adults (aged 60 years or older) registered at two Family Health Units in a municipality in the interior of Bahia. Data collection instruments included a biosociodemographic and health status survey, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Edmonton Frailty Scale, functional scales (Barthel Index and Lawton Scale), and anthropometric measurements. Associations between independent variables and fall risk were assessed via crude and adjusted analyses using Poisson regression with robust variance, expressed as prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Fall risk was prevalent in 68.3% of the sample and was significantly associated with frailty (adjusted PR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.60–0.86; p < 0.001), muscle strength (PR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.96–0.98; p < 0.001), and waist circumference (PR = 1.00; 95% CI: 1.00–1.01; p = 0.03). Conclusion: Frailty, muscle strength, and waist circumference are independent predictors of fall risk in older adults.
References
ADAM CE, et al. The impact of falls on activities of daily living in older adults: A retrospective cohort analysis. PLOS ONE, 2024; 19(1): e0294017.
BALZANI LAD, et al. The effects of physical exercise on balance and prevention of falls in older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2020; 9(8): 2595.
CERVI A, et al. Análise crítica do uso do índice de massa corporal para idosos. Revista de Nutrição, 2005; 18: 765-775.
CLOSE JCT, LORD SR. Fall prevention in older people: past, present and future. Age and Ageing, 2022; 51(1-5).
FRIED LP, et al. Untangling the concepts of disability, frailty, and comorbidity: implications for improved targeting and care. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 2004; 59(3): M255-M263.
LAWTON MP, BRODY EM. Assessment of older people: self-maintaining and instrumental activities of daily living. The Gerontologist, 1969; 9(3): 179-186.
LI Y, et al. Risk factors for falls among community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Medicine, 2023; 9.
LORENZO-LÓPEZ L, et al. Nutritional determinants of frailty in older adults: a systematic review. BMC Geriatrics, 2017; 17: 108.
MAESTRONI L, et al. The Benefits of Strength Training on Musculoskeletal System Health: Practical Applications for Interdisciplinary Care. Sports Medicine, 2020.
MAHONEY FI, BARTHEL DW. Functional evaluation: the Barthel index. Maryland State Medical Journal, 1965; 14(61-65).
MEREDITH SJ, et al. Factors that influence older adults’ participation in physical activity: a systematic review of qualitative studies. Age and Ageing, 2023; 52(1-15).
MITCHELL AJ. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE): Update on Its Diagnostic Accuracy and Clinical Utility for Cognitive Disorders. In: LARNER AJ. (Ed.). Cognitive Screening Instruments. Switzerland: Springer, 2017; 37-48.
NAGARKAR A, KULKARNI S. Association between daily activities and fall in older adults: an analysis of longitudinal ageing study in India (2017–18). BMC Geriatrics, 2022; 22: 203.
NUNES DP, et al. Rastreamento de fragilidade em pessoas idosas por instrumento autorreferido. Revista de Saúde Pública, 2015; 49(2).
ROLFSON DB, et al. Validity and reliability of the Edmonton Frail Scale. Age and Ageing, 2006; 35(5): 526-529.
TÔRRES SC, et al. Estudo da posição natural da cabeça em relação ao plano horizontal de Frankfurt na avaliação mandibular de indivíduos com padrão facial de Classe I e Classe II. Revista Dental Press de Ortodontia e Ortopedia Facial, 2006; 11: 84-98.
XIA Q, et al. Factors associated with balance impairments in the community-dwelling elderly in urban China. BMC Geriatrics, 2023; 23: 545.
YOU Q, et al. Waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, body fat rate, total body fat mass and risk of low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Spine Journal, 2022; 31: 123–135.
YU L, et al. Assessing elderly’s functional balance and mobility via analyzing data from waist-mounted tri-axial wearable accelerometers in timed up and go tests. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 2021; 21: 108.