[Final results of a multifactorial and community intervention study for the prevention of falls in the elderly]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a multifactorial and community intervention programme to decrease the number of falls and their complications in the ≥70 years population in a community. DESIGN: Multicentre, community intervention study, with no random assignment and with controls. SETTING: Two basic health areas in the province of Girona (Spain). PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of people ≥70 years, 2515 in the intervention group (IG) and 1212 in the control group (CG). The IG received multifactorial intervention with community activities, individual in the clinic or at home and by the professionals, for 2 years. The CG received routine health care. MEASUREMENTS AND PRIMARY OUTCOMES: The baseline situation of two representative random samples, IG (n=329) and CG (n=379) and post-intervention IG (n=292) and CG (n=310), usinn a survey. RESULTS: (People with falls): IG baseline 29% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 25.8–31.9) and post-intervention 31% (95% CI: 25.6–36.5). CG baseline 32% (95% CI: 28.8–35.2) and post-intervention 30% (95% CI: 24.9–35.4). Falls with fractures: IG baseline 10.4% (95% CI:6–16.3) and post-intervention 5.3% (95% CI:2–11,2); CG baseline 7% (95% CI:4–11.2) and post-intervention 10.7% (95% CI:5.8–17.7). Falls with medical care: IG baseline 45.4% (95% CI: 37–54) and post-intervention 43.8% (95% CI: 34.4–54.4). GC baseline 30.3% (95% CI: 24.3–36.8) and post-intervention 40.8% (95% CI: 31–51.2). CONCLUSIONS: A multifactorial community intervention programme in people ≥70 years did not reduce the number of falls at 2 years, but a tendency to reduce their consequences was observed, and could be integrated within routine care activities.