Risco de quedas e fatores associados em idosos comunitários residentes de São Leopoldo/RS

Abstract

This master’s dissertation from the Graduate Program in Public Health at UNISINOS aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with fall risk among community-dwelling older adults in São Leopoldo. This is a cross-sectional analytical observational study, with a sample composed of 136 older adults linked to the municipal Health Care Network. Fall risk was assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, being classified as moderate/high in 11% of the participants. Bivariate analysis identified significant associations between fall risk and fear of falling, history of falls, reduced handgrip strength, and higher SARC-F scores. In the multivariable logistic regression, poorer performance in the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST) and shorter distance covered in the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) emerged as independent predictors of increased risk. The distinctive feature of this research lies in the unprecedented integration of multiple functional, muscular, and clinical indicators in a Brazilian community-dwelling older population, demonstrating that low-cost, simple, and applicable instruments in the daily routine of Primary Health Care can enable the early identification of older adults in situations of functional vulnerability. The originality of the study resides in translating physical performance measures into objective and feasible screening tools, providing direct support for clinical practice, intervention planning, and the design of public policies. As outcomes, the study highlights the creation of a pioneering epidemiological and functional database in Southern Brazil, the validation of clinical risk predictors, the production of a scientific article under submission to an international journal, and the training of new researchers integrated into collaborative networks. It is concluded that the findings of this dissertation have immediate practical relevance and transformative potential: by proposing accessible predictors, the study not only contributes to science but also offers concrete solutions to reduce fall risk, prevent disabilities, and promote healthy aging, with a positive impact on both the quality of life of the older population and the sustainability of health systems.