Association between multimorbidity and fear of falling: a cross-sectional study with hospitalized older adults / Associação entre multimorbidade e medo de cair: um estudo transversal com idosos hospitalizados

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between multimorbidity and fear of falling among hospitalized older adults. This is a quantitative study with an analytical sectional design, conducted with 83 individuals aged 60 years or older, hospitalized for falls in a referral hospital for emergency treatment in Brazil. Data collection took place through the application of a questionnaire containing socioeconomic and health information as well as characteristics of the fall. The logistic regression analysis revealed that older people who reported multimorbidity are 3.16 times more likely to be afraid of falling than older people who did not report multimorbidity, regardless of sex, age, frailty, and the number of falls in the last year. These results could aid in improving hospital approaches in relation to multimorbidity and fear of falling, decreasing preventable hospitalizations due to falls.