Estudo populacional transversal com idosos sem déficit cognitivo residentes na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil. O objetivo foi avaliar a associação entre dor crônica e autorrelato de quedas. Idoso com dor crônica foi considerado aquele com dor de duração há mais de um ano. Os dados foram coletados por entrevista domiciliar, e as análises foram realizadas no programa Stata 11.0. A prevalência de dor crônica foi 29,7% (IC95%: 25,4-33,9); a prevalência de queda, no último ano, entre idosos com dor foi 31,6% (IC95%: 26,4-37,5) e não diferiu da prevalência entre idosos sem dor (26,4%; IC95%: 23,1-30,0; p = 0,145). No entanto, quando havia dor e osteoporose ou dor e incontinência urinária, o risco de quedas foi 50% (p = 0,019) e 48% maior (p = 0,010), respectivamente. A associação dor crônica e osteoporose ou incontinência urinária elevou a chance de quedas em idosos.

The objective of this study was to assess the association between chronic pain and self-reported falls. This was a cross-sectional sample of elderly individuals without cognitive deficits, living in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and with chronic pain. The study considered elderly that reported chronic pain for at least one year. History of falls was defined as at least one reported fall in the 12 months prior to the study. Data were obtained by home surveys of the elderly. Stata 11.0 was used for statistical analysis. Prevalence of chronic pain was 29.7% (95%CI: 25.4-33.9). Prevalence of falls in the previous year for individuals with pain was 31.6% (95%CI: 26.4-37.5) and did not differ significantly from those without pain (26.4%; 95%CI: 23.1-30.0; p = 0.145). Risk of falls was 50% higher (p = 0.019) for those with pain and osteoporosis and 48% higher for those with pain and urinary incontinence (p = 0.010). History of pain for at least one year and osteoporosis, pain, and urinary incontinency showed higher odds of falls.