Analysis of risk factors for falls among institutionalized elderly persons

Abstract Objectives: to identify the demographic and clinical profile, context of risk and the occurrence of falls among institutionalized elderly persons; analyze the association between the classification of risk of falling using the Brazilian version of the Morse Fall Scale and the occurrence of falls in such individuals. Method: A cohort study was performed in two long-stay institutions in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The sample consisted of 193 elderly persons. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-squared and Fisher tests) were used for analysis. Results: The occurrence of falls was associated with hearing impairment, hand grip strength, Katz Index score, degree of dependence according to Collegial Board Resolution 283/2005 and risk of falls according to the MFS-B. Conclusion: Falls have multifactorial causes, which makes it important to identify the agents that contribute to their occurrence, as it is known that institutionalization significantly increases the risk of falling. Multidisciplinary actions are important for reducing the risk of falls, together with the use of instruments that can predict such risk among institutionalized elderly people.