Fatores associados a fragilidade e ao risco de quedas em idosos : uma revisão de escopo.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterized by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to adverse events, such as falls, which compromise the functionality and quality of life of older adults. OBJECTIVE: To map and analyze the available scientific literature on the effects of frailty on the risk of falls in older adults. METHODS: This is a scoping review conducted according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were carried out in the PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases using controlled descriptors and Boolean operators. Studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, with full-text access, that directly addressed the association between frailty and falls in individuals over 60 years of age. RESULTS: An eligible sample of 766 scientific articles was identified, and after applying the inclusion criteria, 14 studies were selected. The findings showed that frailty is a significant predictor of falls in older adults, regardless of the care setting. Muscle weakness, slow gait, postural instability, sarcopenia, polypharmacy, and comorbidities were the factors most frequently associated with falls. A variety of instruments were used to assess frailty, with emphasis on the Fried Phenotype, the Edmonton Frail Scale, and the Rockwood Frailty Index. CONCLUSION: The analyzed evidence reinforces the consistency of the association between frailty and the risk of falls in older adults and highlights the main predictive factors involved in this relationship.