Characteristics and circumstances of falls leading to severe fractures in elderly people in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Características e circunstâncias das quedas seguidas de fratura grave entre idosos no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

The circumstances associated with falls among elderly people have been well described in some developed countries, but little is known about such accidents in middle-income countries. The aim of this paper is to report the circumstances and characteristics associated with falls leading to severe fractures among elderly people living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cases were obtained from two case-control studies on risk factors for severe fractures due to falls among individuals 60 years or older. Fallers were stratified according to clinical and socio-demographic variables and circumstances of the accident. Women comprised three-fourths of the sample. The femur was the most frequently fractured bone, more common among individuals over 70 years of age. Most falls occurred at home, between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM, but the rooms where they occurred differed according to gender and age. Most individuals did not attribute their falls to tripping or slipping. This sample’s data did not differ substantially from studies in developed countries. Aged; Accidental Falls; Bone Fractures Introduction Falls leading to severe fractures are a problem for the elderly and can lead to disability, severe morbidity, and death 1,2,3,4. The circumstances associated with falls leading to fractures have been well described in some developed countries, but little is known about such accidents in middle-income countries, where the elderly population is increasing rapidly. Knowledge of the characteristics and circumstances associated with these accidents can help plan preventive measures and treatment resources. This paper reports on the characteristics of individuals aged 60 years or older in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who sustained falls and required hospitalization, and the circumstances associated with these falls.