Aim: The aims of this study were to: (1) present preliminary results about the evaluation of the procedures (physical activity and functional fitness tests) followed in the baseline period of our research program, (2) present a preliminary characterization of Portuguese older people regarding sociodemographic, health, physical activity (PA) and functional fitness (FF) variables (3) identify, within those parameters, the ones which are determinant to predict falls in Portuguese older adults.
Material and methods: 647 subjects aged over 65 years were randomly recruited in Lisbon and Tagus Valley area. Trained interviewers administered: (1) a standardized questionnaire that included sociodemographic, health and falls parameters; (2) YPAS questionnaire for PA and (3) six FF tests (30sec Chair-Stand and 8 foot Up&Go from SFT battery and items 4-7 from FAB Scale).Reproducibility and convergent validity of the FF and PA tests were determined by ICC and Pearson correlations. Logistic regression analysis was used to model fall occurrence considering three different fall groups (non-fallers (NF - 0 falls), fallers (F - 1 fall) and recurrent fallers (RF - >1 fall).
Results: FF and PA tests showed to have a good convergent validity and reproducibility, giving us confidence about the results obtained.Approximately 37% of the elderly tested fell during the previous year. From these, 41% were RF. Our results showed that age is not a risk factor for falling and that health and FF variables are the most determinant factors to assess fall risk.
Conclusion: According to the results, falls might not be an inevitable consequence of age, but instead, mainly associated with poor health and functionality. Moreover, PA seems to play a key role in this process, not only because a higher level of PA will lead to a better functionality, but also because PA was found to be a protective factor for both episodic and recurrent falls.