Quedas e fatores associados em idosos trabalhadores de uma instituição de ensino superior

Objective: To analyze factors associated with falls among older workers in a public university. Methods: Cross-sectional study, with workers aged 60 or more. A structured questionnaire was used to cover socio-demographic and occupational characteristics and the occurrence of falls over the last 12 months. Instruments used: Geriatric Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Sitting-Rising Test (SRT), Gait Speed, Static Balance, and Grip strength. Results: The study included 254 older workers, 76% belonged to the age group between 60-64 years and 58.7% were male. The sample was divided into two groups, fallers and non-fallers, and the prevalence of falls over the last twelve months was 21.3% ± 2.72 (95% CI = 15.92-26.58). There was a significant association between falls and gender (p = 0.043), hospitalization over the last 12 months (p = 0.000), and gait speed (p = 0.007). In the Poisson regression model the three variables remained associated with falling: male gender (PRaj = 0.62, CI = 95% 0.40-0.98); suitable gait speed (PRaj = 0.46, CI = 95% 0.26-0.81), and hospitalization over the last 12 months (PRaj = 2.79, CI = 95% 1.80-4.32). Conclusion: The study identified a lower prevalence of falls in this group and found a positive relationship between work and the aging process, which proves that seniors who keep on working are healthier than the general population of the elderly