[Risk factors associated with falls in institutionalized elderly population. A prospective cohort study].
Falls in elderly subjects are a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality. The present study investigated risk factors associated with falls in institutionalized elderly subjects. The subjects of this prospective cohort study were 190 persons aged 65 years or older, who were able to walk unassisted. We recorded sociodemographic variables, morbidity, drugs, functional capacity, cognitive status, gait and balance. Crude and adjusted density ratios (DR) were calculated and Cox proportional risk analysis was performed. A total of 121 falls occurred in 7 persons, for a fall rate of 0.75 per person per year. Independent risk factors identified with multivariate analysis were diabetes mellitus (DR = 3.6), slow gait (DR = 1.7), failed Romberg test (DR = 3.2) and fall(s) during the previous 12 months (DR = 1.9). Drugs that were associated with significant risk were digitalis, antiarrhythmics, neuroleptics, antidepressants and oral bronchodilators. A higher number of chronic diseases acted as a protective factor. The main risk factors associated with falls in elderly were easy to identify. Analysis of these factors can help to identify elderly persons with a high risk of falls, and thus focus appropriate preventive measures on these subjects.