| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of research work: To review the medical and psychological consequences of falls in the elderly by analysing research studies. Tasks of work: 1. To systematise the medical consequences of falls in the elderly. 2. To outline the psychological consequences of falls in the elderly. Materials and methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed. The search for studies was done in the PubMed database between December 2020 and September 2021. The systematic literature review included eight scientific articles that address the medical and/or psychological consequences of falls in the elderly. All selected sources were analysed using the document analysis method. Each scientific article was carefully described. The sample selected, the groups of subjects and the duration of the study were given. It also describes the results obtained and the consequences of the falls detected. This information is clearly presented in tables. Finally, all the data were compared using the descriptive method to structure the medical and psychological consequences of falls in the elderly. Results: A review of the results shows that one of the most common consequences of falls are minor injuries, bruises and scratches. Fractures or head injuries are less common. It has also been noted that elderly people with depressive symptoms are more likely to fall down than those without symptoms. As for the psychological consequences of falls, it is often the case that people who fall are afraid of falling again. People suffer from mood swings, depression, fear of falling, and even stop physical activity as a result. Conclusions: 1. Falls in the elderly usually result in minor injuries, bruises or scratches, and less commonly in bone fractures or head trauma. 2. In addition, falls in the elderly often lead to a fear of repeated falls, which limits the person's physical activity, and mood swings, which are less likely to cause depression. |
