[Analysis of XXXX falls in the elderly].

@entity1 @entity66 @entity174 @entity101 @entity6 @entity73 @entity173
AIMS: To identify the circumstances associated with falls resulting in @entity173 in the elderly, and risk factors for this kind of fall. METHOD: A 12 month observational study of @entity1 over 65 years, admitted for @entity173 resulting from a fall to the General University Hospital of Albacete. VARIABLES: demographic data, circumstances of fall, type of @entity174 , previous falls, associated diseases, regular drug treatment and mental status, collected from medical records and interviews. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed, which included, comparison of means (t test), comparison of proportions (  (2)), odds ratio and corresponding 95% confidence intervals, and logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 312 @entity1 were included with a mean age 81.68 years (range, 65-99), of which 74.3% (232) were @entity1 . Only 35 @entity1 (11,2%) lived in an institution, 212 (68%) had not had a fall during previous six months, and 116 @entity1 (37.2%) had @entity73 . Falls occurred indoors (189 @entity1 , 63.2%), with only 14% (41) during the night. Most of falls were related to extrinsic factors (31.5% tripping, slipping 24.1%; n=257). @entity1 had @entity66 in a 96% (300) of cases, with the most common being @entity101 (177 @entity1 , 59%) and @entity6 (72, 24%). Drugs most frequently taken were anti-platelets (82, 31.9%), antihypertensives, diuretics (78, 30.4%), oral hypoglycaemic agents (41, 16%), anxiolytics (37, 14.4%) and antidepressants (35, 13.6%). The prior independence for walking on the street appears as a protective factor to fall indoors. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, falls resulting in @entity173 occurred commonly in elderly @entity1 without previous falls, while at home, at a time of increased activity, and by extrinsic factors.
