Quedas em idosos: grupo de risco moderado

PURPOSE: To trace the socio-functional and clinical profiles of elders with moderate levels of movement functionality as determined by the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA Ia), and to compare the groups having high and moderate levels of functionality regarding the frequency of falls and identifiable risk factors. METHODS: The research involved 49 elders (with an average age of 71.24, SD 5.47) who were seeking medical care in the geriatric unit of a tertiary care hospital. Study participants were evaluated regarding their balance and gait (POMA Ia assessment), muscle strength (chair-stand test), gait velocity (timed up and go test), incidence of falls, and other clinical risk factors. RESULTS: The moderate functionality group reported significantly more falls (14) compared with the high functionality group (3). Of the risk factors evaluated, the presence of depression or of a psychiatric record was significantly more frequent in the moderate-functionality group but was not correlated with an increase in falls., Muscle weakness was found significantly more frequently in the moderate-functionality group and was significantly correlated with an increased frequency of falls. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the POMA Ia assessment can identify individuals with an increased risk of falling, and the treatment of risk factors such as depression or a psychiatric record, and muscle weakness could help prevent the occurrence of falls in elders with moderate functionality as determined by the POMA Ia assessment.OBJETIVO: Traçar o perfil sócio-funcional e clínico de idosos com risco moderado de quedas e compará-lo com idosos de baixo risco, identificando os fatores avaliados que correlacionassem com o risco e o relato de queda. MÉTODOS: O estudo avaliou 49 idosos (com média de idade de 71,24 anos, DP 5,47) que procuraram atendimento num ambulatório de triagem geriátrica de um hospital de nível terciário. Foram avaliados: equilíbrio, marcha (avaliados pelo teste POMA Ia), força muscular (30's chair stand), velocidade da marcha (timed up and go), incidência de quedas e outros riscos clínicos. RESULTADOS: O grupo de risco moderado relatou mais quedas (14 idosos) do que o baixo risco (3), atingindo a significância estatística (chi2 = 0,0052). Dentre os fatores de risco avaliados a presença de depressão ou antecedentes psiquiátricos foi mais freqüente no risco moderado (chi2 = 0,0016), porém, não apresentou diferença quando a variável era o relato prévio de quedas. A presença de fraqueza muscular apresentou associação estatística tanto em relação ao risco (chiÇ2 =0,0284) quanto à queda (chi2 =0,0013). CONCLUSÃO: Estes dados sugerem que o POMA Ia é um instrumento para a identificação de pacientes com risco de quedas e que fatores como depressão ou antecedentes e fraqueza muscular estão associados a ocorrência de quedas em idosos de risco moderado

Falls by elders with moderate levels of movement functionality

PURPOSE: To trace the socio-functional and clinical profiles of elders with moderate levels of movement functionality as determined by the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA Ia), and to compare the groups having high and moderate levels of functionality regarding the frequency of falls and identifiable risk factors. METHODS: The research involved 49 elders (with an average age of 71.24, SD 5.47) who were seeking medical care in the geriatric unit of a tertiary care hospital. Study participants were evaluated regarding their balance and gait (POMA Ia assessment), muscle strength (chair-stand test), gait velocity (timed up and go test), incidence of falls, and other clinical risk factors. RESULTS: The moderate functionality group reported significantly more falls (14) compared with the high functionality group (3). Of the risk factors evaluated, the presence of depression or of a psychiatric record was significantly more frequent in the moderate-functionality group but was not correlated with an increase in falls., Muscle weakness was found significantly more frequently in the moderate-functionality group and was significantly correlated with an increased frequency of falls. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the POMA Ia assessment can identify individuals with an increased risk of falling, and the treatment of risk factors such as depression or a psychiatric record, and muscle weakness could help prevent the occurrence of falls in elders with moderate functionality as determined by the POMA Ia assessment