Marcadores Cardiovasculares para quedas em idosos participantes de um programa de extensão universitário

Abstract

Falls among older adults represent a major public health challenge due to their significant impact on physical, psychological, and social well-being, leading to reduced functional capacity and quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the presence of cardiovascular markers associated with falls in older adults, with particular emphasis on orthostatic hypotension. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 2025 with older adults enrolled in an extension program at a Federal University in the Triângulo Mineiro region, Brazil. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and participants underwent assessments of functional status, balance, physical activity, and fall risk using the SARC-F questionnaire, the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (Approval No. 81848024.6.0000.5152). The findings showed that more than 80% of the participants were women, while 28% were married. A high prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities was observed, including systemic arterial hypertension (54.9%), diabetes mellitus (28.2%), cardiovascular disease (78.9%), and dyslipidemia (47.9%). Furthermore, 80% of the participants reported daily medication use, indicating a high prevalence of continuous pharmacological therapy. Regarding falls, 33% of the participants reported experiencing at least one fall within the previous year. The main cardiovascular markers associated with fall risk identified in this study were orthostatic hypotension, systemic arterial hypertension, pre-existing cardiovascular diseases, including arrhythmias and congestive heart failure, metabolic comorbidities, and abnormal heart rate. Orthostatic hypotension was identified in 12.7% of the study population. In conclusion, falls in older adults have a multifactorial etiology and are associated with cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, physical inactivity, and polypharmacy. These findings highlight the importance of early identification of cardiovascular risk markers by healthcare professionals to support timely preventive interventions and reduce the incidence of falls and their adverse health outcomes among older adults.