Pacha Revista de Estudios Contemporáneos Del Sur Global · Oct 8, 2026
Association between body composition, nutritional status, and risk of falls in older adults living in rural areas of Ecuador: a cross-sectional study
By Sánchez JJM, Portilla RVS, Pauta MYG
Promoting healthy aging constitutes a prevention strategy with a positive impact on both the health of older adults and the health care system. Falls represent the leading cause of injuries in this population and generate a substantial economic and health care burden. To evaluate the association between body composition, nutritional status, and risk of falls in older adults living in rural areas of Ecuador. A cross-sectional study conducted between 2022 and 2023 with older adults aged 65 years or older, recruited through nonprobability convenience sampling at primary care centers and community programs in rural parishes of Azuay Province, Ecuador. Permanent residents capable of providing informed consent were included. Individuals with severe cognitive impairment, disabilities that prevented assessment by bioelectrical impedance analysis, or acute illness were excluded. A total of 316 older adults participated (mean age 74.3±7.6 years; range 65–95 years), of whom 217 (68.7%) were women. Of 316 participants, 85 (26.9%) had a high risk of falls, 58 (18.4%) a moderate risk, and 171 (54.1%) a low risk. Nutritional status was the most important independent predictor of the Tinetti score in the overall model (?=-0.339; p<0.001), in women (?=-0.360; p<0.001), and in men (?=-0.308; p=0.004). IMC was also a significant predictor in the overall model (?=-0.176; p=0.005) and in women (?=-0.223; p=0.001), but not in men. Nutritional status and IMC are the main modifiable predictors of fall risk in older adults living in rural Ecuador, especially in women. Interventions aimed at preventing malnutrition and excess weight should be incorporated into fall prevention protocols in rural primary care.