Banca de DEFESA: ANA PRICILA TEIXEIRA SOARES

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : ANA PRICILA TEIXEIRA SOARES
DATE: 26/02/2026
TIME: 14:30
LOCAL: remoto
TITLE:

EXPLORING FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH FALLS AND FALL RISK: A CONVERGENCE ANALYSIS AMONG OLDER ADULTS FROM THE PRO-

EVA STUDY

 

KEY WORDS:

Aging, Falls, Fall risk.

PAGES: 78
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional
SUMMARY:

INTRODUCTION: Population aging has heightened the significance of
falls as a major public health concern, given their impact on independence, functionality, and mortality in older adults. Multiple
biological, psychological, and environmental factors contribute to fall
events, requiring comprehensive assessment within Primary Health Care
(PHC) for effective prevention and care planning. Although several
studies have identified risk factors for falls, few have directly compared
the determinants of fall occurrence and fall risk, considering their
interaction and convergence across multiple domains. OBJECTIVE: To
identify and compare factors associated with fall occurrence and fall risk
among older adults participating in the Pro-Eva Study, using a

convergence analysis approach. METHODS: An analytical, cross-
sectional observational study including 1,164 older adults (≥60 years), of

both sexes, residing in Parnamirim, Brazil. Data were collected using a
standardized protocol covering sociodemographic, clinical, and
functional variables, including polypharmacy, cognitive and emotional
status, lifestyle habits, calf circumference, and fall occurrence (from the
Older Adult Health Booklet). Fall risk was assessed by the FRRISque
Tool. Physical performance was measured by the Short Physical
Performance Battery (SPPB), sarcopenia identified using EWGSOP2
criteria, and frailty assessed by the Fried Phenotype. Statistical analyses
included Student’s t-test, chi-square, and multivariate binary logistic
regression, with odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and
p< 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age was 70.2 ± 7.07 years, and 63.3%
were women. Thirty-nine percent reported at least one fall in the
previous year, and 66.5% presented a high risk of falling. Falls were
more frequent among women (43.8%; p < 0.001), those without a
partner (42.2%; p = 0.017), and polypharmacy users (50.5%; p < 0.001).
A high fall risk was also more prevalent among women (71.5%; p <
0.001), those without a partner (70.1%; p = 0.003), and participants with
disabilities (76.0%; p = 0.001). In regression analysis, chronic pain was
strongly associated with both fall occurrence (OR = 1.73; p < 0.001) and
fall risk (OR = 1.78; p < 0.001), while polypharmacy showed the highest
magnitude of association (OR = 2.78; p < 0.001). Convergent and
divergent variable patterns were identified across outcomes. 

CONCLUSION: The study evidenced a high prevalence of falls and a
high risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults, confirming
the relevance of this event as a priority public health problem in Primary
Health Care. Convergence was observed between factors associated with
falls and fall risk, with chronic pain, polypharmacy, female sex, and
frailty burden showing the strongest associations in adjusted models.
Falls were associated with a more restricted set of clinical and functional
factors, whereas fall risk was associated with a broader range of
variables, including hypertension, education, mood, and physical
performance, suggesting greater complexity and the potential
identification of earlier stages of functional vulnerability. These findings
contribute to the development of more refined predictive models and to
the planning of multidimensional fall prevention strategies, with
potential impact on reducing disability and healthcare costs.

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1460020 - ALVARO CAMPOS CAVALCANTI MACIEL
Externa à Instituição - EUJESSIKA KATIELLY RODRIGUES SILVA
Interna - 4374835 - KARYNA MYRELLY OLIVEIRA BEZERRA DE FIGUEIREDO RIBEIRO