Positive self-rated health in the elderly: a population-based study in the South of Brazil Autopercepção positiva de saúde em idosos: estudo populacional no Sul do Brasil Autopercepción positiva de salud en ancianos: estudio poblacional en el Sur de Brasil

The prevalence of urinary incontinence was high among the investigated elderly. Sociodemographic variables and those related to lifestyle and health conditions were associated with higher prevalence of urinary incontinence. Knowledge of the factors associated with urinary incontinence in aged individuals can guide actions to reduce and prevent this important issue, which affects the elderly.

most elderly did not show significant changes in their sociodemographic, behavioral and health characteristics; the need to rethink more effective actions to improve the elderly health stands out.

Therefore, it is clear that chronic pain affects a considerable amount of elderly individuals. Social inequalities are a harmful influence in these individuals' quality of life, inasmuch as those inequalities increase the frequency with which chronic pain afflicts them. At the same time, physical activity during leisure time decreases chronic pain frequency. It is fundamental that public health policies subsidize multidisciplinary pain management programs, which should include health targeted physical activity for the elderly, thus preventing the decrease in quality of life that chronic pain brings to this population.

Fear of falling is characterized by anxiety when walking or excessive worry about falling. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with fear of recurrent falls among older adults in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. A total of 266 older adults who had fallen in the previous year were studied based on a population-based cross-sectional survey. Statistical analysis used Poisson regression to assess the association between fear of recurrent falls and the covariates (socioeconomic variables, physical activity, diseases, cognitive impairment, socializing with friends, characteristics of falls, and self-rated health), respecting the hierarchy between the variables. Among the sample, 57.1% feared recurrent falls. The adjusted analysis yielded a significant association between the outcome and female gender (p = 0.013), less socializing with friends (p = 0.015), diseases of the spinal column (p = 0.022), and limitation of daily activities after the fall (p = 0.001). Thus, campaigns to prevent fear of new falls should particularly target women with limitations due to previous falls and low social interaction.

No abstract

The objective was to investigate the cir-cumstances and consequences of falling and risk factors associated with limitations in performing activities after falling. The study is part of the cross-sectional population based survey, conducted in 2009/2010, which involved 1,705 older adults (60 years and older) living in Florianopolis, SC. From the affirmative answer to the question of whether any falls occurred in the 12 months preceding the study, we investigated the circumstances and consequences of falls through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression were used, with significance level of 5%. The prevalence of fall was 19% (14.3% for men and 21.5% for women). Most older adults fell while walking, 43.2% inside their homes. The main cause of falling was stumbling due to irregularities on the ground. 71% of those who fell reported injury, and 14.8% reported limitations in performing activities after the fall. There was a significant association between limitations in performing activities after the occurrence of falls and fractures. Preventing falls should be a public health concern, given that relatively easy changes can reduce the risk of falls.

RESUMO: Objetivou analisar a incidência e os fatores associados às quedas em idosos praticantes de atividades físicas. A amostra constituiu-se de 28 idosos inseridos no Programa de Atividades Físicas para Terceira Idade do Centro de Desportos da UniversidadeFederal de Santa Catarina. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo. Para a coleta dos dados utilizou-se entrevista semi-estruturada e estatística descritiva para a análise dos dados. Identificou-se uma baixa porcentagem (7,63%) de quedas entre os idosos. Os fatores associados às quedas foram: ser do sexo feminino, ter entre 70 e 79 anos e apresentar problemas de visão. A maioria das quedas ocorreu dentro de casa e, após a queda, os idosos tiveram restrições nas suas atividades diárias e, a maioria, relatou medo de sofrer nova queda. O estudo indica que a prática de atividades físicas é um fator de proteção para quedas. DESCRITORES:Acidentes por quedas. Envelhecimento. Atividade física. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH FALLS AMONG ELDERLY PRACTITIONERS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES ABSTRACT:The objective of this descriptive study was to analyze the incidence of and factors associated with falls among elderly who practice physical activities. The sample consisted of 25 elderly who participated in the Elderly Physical Activities Program at the Sports Center of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Data was collected through application of a semi-structured interview and analyzed according to descriptive statistics. A low fall percentage (7.63%) was identified among the elderly participants of this study. The factors associated with falling were: female gender, being between 70 to 79 years old, and having vision problems. Most of the falls occurred at home and following their fall, these elderly began to have restrictions in their daily activities. The majority of the sample reported a fear of falling again. The study indicates that physical activity is a protective factor concerning falls.DESCRIPTORS: Accidental falls. Aging. Physical activity. FACTORES ASOCIADOS CON CAÍDAS ENTRE LOS ANCIANOS PRACTICANTES DE ACTIVIDADES FÍSICAS RESUMEN:Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la incidencia y los factores asociados con caídas en los ancianos practicantes de actividades físicas. La muestra consistió de 28 ancianos participantes en el Programa de Actividades Físicas para la Tercera Edad, del Centro de Deportes de la Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo. Para la recolección de los datos se utilizó una entrevista semi-estructurada y para el análisis, la estadística descriptiva. Fue detectado un bajo porcentaje (7,63%) de caídas en los ancianos. Los factores asociados con las caídas son: el hecho de ser mujer, tener entre 70 y 79 y presentar problemas de visión. La mayoría de las caídas ocurrieron en el hogar. Se detecto también que después de una caida, los ancianos tuvieron restricciones en sus actividades diarias y temores de sufrir otra caída. El estudio indica que la práctica de actividad física es un factor de protección de caídas. DES...