Factors Associated with the Risk of Falls of Nursing Home Residents Aged 80 or Older

Background: Falls are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in older and represents one of the major and most costly public health problems worldwide. Purpose: Evaluate the influences of lower limb muscle performance, static balance, functional independence and quality of life on fall risk as assessed with the Timed Up and Go test. Design: Crosssectional. Methods: Fifty-two residents aged 80 or older were assessed and distributed in one of the two study groups according to the time to complete the Timed Up and Go Test. A Kistler force platform and linear transducer was used to determinate lower limb muscle performance. Postural Stability was measured by recording the center of pressure. The EuroQol-5 dimension was used to assess Health-Related Quality of Life and the Barthel Index was used to examine functional status. Student t-test was performed to evaluate the differences between groups. Correlations between variables were analyzed using Spearman or Pearson coefficient. ROC analysis was used to determine the cut-off points related to a decrease in the risk of a fall. Findings: Participants of no-fall risk group showed better lower limb performance, quality of life, and functional status. Cut-off points were determined for each outcome. Conclusions: Risk of falls in nursing home residents over the age of 80 is associated with lower limb muscle performance, functional status and quality of Life. Clinical Relevance: Cut-off points can be used by clinicians when working toward fall prevention and could help in determining the optimal lower limb muscle performance level for preventing falls

Abstracts of the International Congress of Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences & Human Development (2016)

The papers published in this book of abstracts / proceedings were submitted to the Scientific Commission of the International Congress of Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences & Human Development, held on 11 and 12 November 2016, at the University of Évora, Évora, Portugal, under the topic of Exercise and Health, Sports and Human Development. The content of the abstracts is solely and exclusively of its authors responsibility. The editors and the Scientific Committee of the International Congress of Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences & Human Development do not assume any responsibility for the opinions and statements expressed by the authors. Partial reproduction of the texts and their use without commercial purposes is allowed, provided the source / reference is duly mentioned