Fall risk prediction model for older men and women based on ambulatory physical activity level – A cross-sectional population-based study from the Oporto Region

Authors

Paulo Jorge Quintela Cardoso-Carmo, Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Portugal; Center for Rehabilitation Research, Health Superior School, Polytechnic of Porto, Portugal; Vila Nova de Gaia Hospital Center, Porto, PortugalFollow
Adjane Maria Pontes César, Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, PortugalFollow
Manuel Rubim Silva Santos, Center for Rehabilitation Research, Health Superior School, Polytechnic of Porto, PortugalFollow
Maria Joana Mesquita Barbosa de Carvalho, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, PortugalFollow

Abstract

Introduction. Falls among the elderly are an important community health problem due to its high incidence, functional and social repercussion. Dissimilar results arose in recent studies concerning fall risk and physical activity levels. This study measures the association between physical activity (PA) levels, and fall risk (FR), investigates which levels of PA are influential in FR and presents a fall risk prediction models for the elderly. Material and Methods. One hundred and seventy elderly adults (72.34 ± 6.70 years old, 124 female), completed Performance-Orientated-Mobility-Assessment; PA was assessed by accelerometry. Pearson’s correlation verified the association between FR, Age, and PA. Multiple linear regression (MLR) was used to investigate the influence of variables on FR. Results. PA, age are predictors of FR, with PA (moderate, negative) age (moderate, positive). MLR analysis showed FR variability explained by PA (42.0%) and by age (37.0%), and by gender, female FR explained by light PA (47.0%), while in male, FR explained by sedentary behaviour (44.1%) and age (22.7%) independently. Conclusion. Individuals with higher physical activity have lower fall risk. Older are prone to fall. Older women with light physical activity are less likely to fall. Older men with more sedentary behaviour are prone to fall.

Recommended Citation

Quintela Cardoso-Carmo PJ, Pontes César AM, Santos MR, de Carvalho MJ. Fall risk prediction model for older men and women based on ambulatory physical activity level – A cross-sectional population-based study from the Oporto Region. [journal title abbr.]. 2022 Mar 02; 14(1):Article 3 [ p.]. Available from: https://www.balticsportscience.com/journal/vol14/iss1/3. Free full text article.

Author ORCID Identifier

Paulo Jorge QUINTELA CARDOSO-CARMO ORCID 0000-0002-3142-2914

Manuel Rubim Silva SANTOS ORCID 0000-0002-7394-7604

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.