Consequences of falls in older people living in the community: an integrative review

Jaciane Ferreira dos Santos, Diego Gabriel Santos de Oliveira, Crislene Rodrigues da Cruz, Iris Ribeiro Cruz, Rebeca Andrade Trajano, Manuela Bastos Alves

Abstract

Falls are configured as an important cause of morbidity among the elderly and can bring negative consequences to the quality of life of these individuals, such as fractures, loss of limitation of functionality and total or partial dependence for activities of daily living (ADLs), thus being considered an important public health problem. This study aims to describe the consequences of falls among elderly people living in the community through evidence in the literature. This is an integrative literature review study, conducted in the Lilacs, Bdenf, Medline and IBECS databases, in the period from 2020 to 2021. Results: among the consequences found in the review, fractures were the most common, appearing in 81.81% of the selected articles, followed by injuries and medical care 36.36% and fear of falling again 27.7%. The consequences of falls are responsible for generating limitations in the performance of basic life activities, dependence, anxiety, fear, depression, costing health services and family members, besides increasing the risk of mortality among these people.

Author Biographies

Jaciane Ferreira dos Santos, Universidade do Estado da Bahia

Discente do curso de Enfermagem da Universidade do Estado da Bahia. Senhor do Bonfim, Bahia, Brasil. Email: jacicaro01@gmail.com

Diego Gabriel Santos de Oliveira, Universidade do Estado da Bahia

Discente do curso de   Enfermagem da Universidade do Estado da Bahia. Senhor do Bonfim, Bahia, Brasil.

Crislene Rodrigues da Cruz da Cruz

Discente do curso de Enfermagem da Universidade do Estado da Bahia. Senhor do Bonfim, Bahia, Brasil

Iris Ribeiro Cruz, Universidade do Estado da Bahia

Discente do curso de Enfermagem da Universidade do Estado da Bahia. Senhor do Bonfim, Bahia, Brasil.

Manuela Bastos Alves, Universidade do Estado da Bahia

Enfermeira. Mestranda em Enfermagem e Saúde pela Universidade Federal da Bahia. Salvador, Bahia, Brasil.

Rebeca Andrade Trajano, Universidade Federal da Bahia

Enfermeira. Docente do curso de Enfermagem da Universidade do Estado da Bahia. Senhor do Bonfim, Bahia, Brasil

Published
2022-06-06