THE IMPORTANCE OF FALLS ON THE SAME LEVEL AMONG THE ELDERLY IN SAO PAULO STATE

THE IMPORTANCE OF FALLS ON THE SAME LEVEL AMONG THE ELDERLY IN SAO PAULO STATE OBJECTIVE. To analyze characteristics of fall related injuries, with emphasis on falls on the same level, of those with 60 years or more of age resident in the state of Sao Paulo, based on three official information sources. METHODS. A total of 1,328 deaths registered in the Information Mortality System in 2007, 20,726 hospital admissions registered in the Hospitalization Information System in 2008 and 359 visits to 24 different emergency departments (ED) in 2007 were analyzed. A logistic regression model was used to test associations between some variables. RESULTS. More fatal fall victims were male (51.2%), while females were predominant among hospital admissions (61.1 %) and ED visits (60.4 %). The mortality rate was 31.0/100,000, reaching 110.7/100,000 among those aged 80 years or more. Falls on the same level were responsible for the largest proportion of definite deaths (35.0 %), hospital admissions (47.5 %) and also ED visits (66.0 %), increasing with the age groups. Residences were the place of occurrence for 65.8 % of the cases in EDs. Head trauma was important among deaths; femur fractures were the most frequent injuries for hospital admissions and ED visits. Compared to men, women were 1.55 times significantly more likely to be attended for a fall than other external causes. Comparatively In comparison to people aged 60 to 69 years, those aged 70 to 79 years and 80 years old or more were 2.10 and 2.26 times, respectively more likely to be fall victims than victims of other external causes. There was no statistically significant difference among people who suffered falls on the same level and other types of falls, for gender and age groups when one compared individuals CONCLUSION. It is urgent to implement fall prevention programs forto the elderly [Rev Assoc Med Bras 2010; 56(2): 162-7]