Ocorrência de quedas em idosos comunitários com e sem alterações cognitivas

Abstract

Objective: To verify the occurrence of falls among elderly community members without and with mild and moderate cognitive changes and to analyze the factors associated with these falls in each group. Method: Cross-sectional study, with a paired sample regarding sex and age, to compose the group of elderly people with and without cognitive impairment. The sample consisted of a total of 118 elderly people seen at the Elderly Reference Center at Hospital das Clínicas da UFMG (CRIHC / UFMG). This study included elderly people aged 65 and over, of both sexes, living in the community. The exclusion criteria adopted were: being bedridden, in a wheelchair or in a terminal stage; present disabling hearing or visual changes for the test and severe dementia (grade 3). Results: There was no statistically significant difference regarding the occurrence of falls between the groups of elderly people with and without cognitive impairment. In seven comparative studies, one pointed out that age is a triggering factor for falls and not cognitive decline and the other six studies obtained as a result the existence of the relationship between cognitive function, balance, risk of falls and functionality in elderly people and that cognitive impairment / dementia are mainly responsible for falls in the elderly population. Conclusion: Given the lack of consensus on the results obtained in the studies presented, there is a need to develop more studies that address the theme of falls in the elderly and what is its relationship with increasing age, the presence of depression, education, comorbidities, sex and mainly cognitive and / or physical impairments.