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Revista de Enfermagem Referência
Print version ISSN 0874-0283On-line version ISSN 2182-2883
Abstract
FURTADO, Betise Mery Alencar Sousa Macau et al. Epidemiological characteristics and spatial distribution of falls among older adults in pre-hospital care. Rev. Enf. Ref. [online]. 2021, vol.serV, n.6, e20115. Epub Sep 16, 2021. ISSN 0874-0283. https://doi.org/10.12707/rv20115.
Background:
Falls are a common, serious, and growing public health problem among older adults.
Objectives:
To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and spatial distribution of the care delivered to elderly victims of falls by the Mobile Emergency Care Service (in Brazil, SAMU - Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência) in a municipality in Brazil.
Methodology:
Cross-sectional study based on data from the SAMU (2010-2017). The services were recorded in a database and georeferenced. Descriptive statistics were used, and Pearson’s χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test (α < 5%) were applied to detect correlations. Kernel density estimation (KDE) was used to identify spatial clusters.
Results:
There were 1,466 services, most of them with women, with a mean age of 79 years. The majority of patients fell at home, during the day, and from own height. Kernel density estimation identified a higher concentration of services in 7 residential areas.
Conclusion:
The results may help to plan strategies to prevent fall-related injuries in older adults.
Keywords : aged; fall-related injuries; pre-hospital care; outpatient care; spatial analysis.