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Older People Living Alone: A Predictive Model of Fall Risk

Author

Listed:
  • Isabel Lage

    (School of Nursing, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Fátima Braga

    (School of Nursing, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
    Nursing Research Centre, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Manuela Almendra

    (School of Nursing, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
    Nursing Research Centre, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Filipe Meneses

    (School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
    Centro de Computação Gráfica, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
    Algoritmi Research Centre, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal)

  • Laetitia Teixeira

    (ICBAS, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
    CINTESIS@RISE, ICBAS, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal)

  • Odete Araújo

    (School of Nursing, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
    Nursing Research Centre, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
    Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA:E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3045-043 Coimbra, Portugal)

Abstract

Falls in older people are a result of a combination of multiple risk factors. There are few studies involving predictive models in a community context. The aim of this study was to determine the validation of a new model for predicting fall risk in older adults (65+) living alone in community dwellings (n = 186; n = 117) with a test–retest reliability study. We consider in the predictive model the significant factors emerged from the bivariate analysis: age, zone, social community resources, physical exercise, self-perception of health, difficulty to keep standing, difficulty to sit and get up from a chair, strain to see, use of technical devices, hypertension and number of medications. The final model explained 28.5% of the risk of falling in older adults living alone in community dwellings. The AUC = 0.660 (se = 0.065, IC 95% 0.533–0.787, p = 0.017). The predictive model developed revealed a satisfactory discriminatory performance of the model and can contribute to clinical practice, with respect to the evaluation of risk of falling in this frailty group and preventing falls.

Suggested Citation

  • Isabel Lage & Fátima Braga & Manuela Almendra & Filipe Meneses & Laetitia Teixeira & Odete Araújo, 2023. "Older People Living Alone: A Predictive Model of Fall Risk," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(13), pages 1-10, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:13:p:6284-:d:1185680
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