Efecto de una intervención multidimensional en personas mayores autovalentes para el manejo del riesgo de caídas / Effect of a multidimensional intervention for prevention of falls in the eldery

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el efecto de una intervención multidimensional en la percepción y el manejo de factores de riesgo intrínsecos y extrínsecos de caídas y en la frecuencia de caídas en personas mayores autovalentes que viven en la comunidad. DISEÑO: Ensayo clínico aleatorizado controlado. Emplazamiento: Centro público de salud familiar, nivel primario de atención. PARTICIPANTES: Personas mayores autovalentes que viven en la comunidad. Intervención: Intervención educativa multidimensional de visita domiciliaria y seguimiento telefónico mensual por 5 meses para el grupo intervenido (GI, n = 77) y los asignados al grupo control (GC, n = 77) atención habitual en su centro de salud. Mediciones principales: Percepción de riesgo de caídas, número de factores de riesgo caídas y número de caídas en el periodo. RESULTADOS: En ambos grupos aumenta la percepción de los factores de riesgo de caídas asociadas con la deambulación (GI: p ≤ 0,001 y GC: p ≤ 0,001). Pertenecer al GI se asocia significativamente con una disminución en los factores de riesgo asociados con las superficies (r = 0,25) y los zapatos (r = 0,24); un aumento en la percepción de riesgo de caídas asociadas a la deambulación (r = 0,21) y la presencia de objetos o muebles (r = 0,36). En GI, 5 participantes (7,9%) sufrieron al menos una caída en el periodo de 5 meses y en el GC 18 (27,7%) (p = 0,004). CONCLUSIONES: La intervención multidimensional fue efectiva para reducir la frecuencia de caídas y para el manejo de factores de riesgo extrínsecos asociados con las superficies, la iluminación y los dispositivos de apoyo

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a multidimensional intervention on the perception and management of risk factors and frequency of falls in independent elderly people living in the community. DESIGN: Randomised clinical trial. SETTING: Family health centre, primary care. PARTICIPANTS: Independent elderly people living in the community. INTERVENTION: For intervention group (IG) a multidimensional intervention, consisting of home visits and telephone follow-up was carried out for 5 months (n = 77), and those assigned to the control group (CG, n = 77) received usual care in the family health centre. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Perception of risk of falls, number of risk factors and number of falls in the study period. RESULTS: In both groups there were increases in the perception of risk factors for falling associated with walking (IG: P < .001 and CG: P < .001). Belonging to the IG was significantly associated with a decrease in the risk factors associated with surfaces (r = 0.25) and shoes (r = 0.24), as well as an increase in the perception of risk of falls associated with walking (r = 0.21) and the presence of objects or furniture (r = 0.36). In the IG, 5 participants (7.9%) suffered at least one fall in the 5-month period and 18 (27.7%) patients in the CG (P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: The Multidimensional intervention was effective in reducing the frequency of falls and in the management of extrinsic risk factors associated with surfaces, lighting, and support devices

[Effect of a multidimensional intervention for prevention of falls in the eldery]. / Efecto de una intervención multidimensional en personas mayores autovalentes para el manejo del riesgo de caídas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a multidimensional intervention on the perception and management of risk factors and frequency of falls in independent elderly people living in the community. DESIGN: Randomised clinical trial. SETTING: Family health centre, primary care. PARTICIPANTS: Independent elderly people living in the community. INTERVENTION: For intervention group (IG) a multidimensional intervention, consisting of home visits and telephone follow-up was carried out for 5 months (n=77), and those assigned to the control group (CG, n=77) received usual care in the family health centre. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Perception of risk of falls, number of risk factors and number of falls in the study period. RESULTS: In both groups there were increases in the perception of risk factors for falling associated with walking (IG: P<.001 and CG: P<.001). Belonging to the IG was significantly associated with a decrease in the risk factors associated with surfaces (r=0.25) and shoes (r=0.24), as well as an increase in the perception of risk of falls associated with walking (r=0.21) and the presence of objects or furniture (r=0.36). In the IG, 5 participants (7.9%) suffered at least one fall in the 5-month period and 18 (27.7%) patients in the CG (P=.004). CONCLUSIONS: The multidimensional intervention was effective in reducing the frequency of falls and in the management of extrinsic risk factors associated with surfaces, lighting, and support devices.