Falls Current Awareness Newsletter January 2017 ( Quarterly )

Purpose of the study To analyze a representative sample of older individuals of Sao Paulo, Brazil, according to outdoor fallers, indoor fallers and non-fallers, and to identify biological and socioeconomic (individual and contextual) factors associated with the occurrence and place of falls. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using data (n = 1345) from the 2010 wave of the Health, Wellbeing and Aging (SABE) Study, a representative sample of older residents (60 years and older) of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Multinomial logistic analysis was performed to identify individual factors associated with the occurrence and place of falls, and multilevel multinomial analysis to identify contextual effects (green areas, violence, presence of slums and income inequality). Results 29% had a fall in the last 12 months, with 59% occurring in indoor spaces. Individuals who had outdoor falls were overall not statistically different from non-fallers; on the other hand, those who had the last fall indoor had worse health status. Moderate homicide rate was a factor associated with increased presence of indoor falls, compared with non-fallers. Implications Our results describe the importance of falls, a common problem in active and community-dwelling older adults of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Transforming outdoor spaces into walk-friendly areas is essential to allow socialization and autonomy with safety. Creating strategies that take into account the most vulnerable populations, as those who live in violent areas and the oldest older adults, will be a growing challenge among developing countries. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd 21. Evaluation of the "medication fall risk score". Author(s): Yazdani, Cyrus; Hall, Scott Source: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy; Jan 2017; vol. 74 (no. 1) Publication Type(s): Academic Journal 22. Complex and Simple Clinical Reaction Times Are Associated with Gait, Balance, and Major Fall Injury in Older Subjects with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. Author(s): Richardson, James K.; Eckner, James T.; Allet, Lara; Kim, Hogene; Ashton-Miller, James A. Source: American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation; Jan 2017; vol. 96 (no. 1); p. 8-16 Publication Date: Jan 2017 Publication Type(s): Academic Journal 23. Preventing falls in older people. Author(s): Oxtoby, Kathy Source: British Journal of Community Nursing; Jan 2017; vol. 22 (no. 1); p. 683-683 Publication Type(s): Academic Journal 24. Culture Most Important in Preventing Falls with Elderly. Source: Case Management Advisor; Jan 2017; vol. 28 (no. 1); p. 15-15 Publication Date: Jan 2017 Publication Type(s): Periodical