A característica histórico-cultural brasileira reflete a população. Idosos negros apresentam desvantagens nos aspectos socioeconômicos e demográficos, clínico-funcionais e psicossociais, reduzindo a autonomia social e a independência funcional. O declínio na condição funcional devido a idade e a variáveis associadas à etnia pode contribuir em eventos incapacitantes, como quedas. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos, clínicos-funcionais, aspectos relacionados às quedas; Avaliou-se mobilidade, condição funcional e cognição. Estatística assumindo significância de p < 0,05. Amostra de 196 idosos sendo 48,5% brancos, 28% pardos, 23,5% negros. Média de 69,9 anos. Mobilidade reduzida classificando médio risco a quedas para 60% (p < 0,013) dos idosos. Referente aos grupos, significância entre variáveis para renda familiar (p < 0,029), ocorrência (p < 0,006) e medo de quedas (p < 0,023) e quase-quedas (p < 0,000). Negros caem com maior frequência (p < 0,03). Significância estatística entre etnia autodeclarada e ocorrência de quedas, medo de cair e ocorrência de quase-quedas, limitação funcional e risco médio a quedas por mobilidade reduzida, frequência maior de quedas aos idosos negros.
The historical and cultural characteristics reflect the Brazilian population. Elderly blacks are disadvantaged in socio-economic and demographic, clinical, functional and psychosocial aspects, reducing their social autonomy and functional independence. The decline in functional status due to variables associated with age and ethnicity can contribute to disabling events, such as falls. Socio-demographic, clinical and functional aspects related to falls were analyzed; Mobility, functional status and cognition were measured, with a statistical significance of pd"0.05. The sample of 196 elderly people was 48.5% white, 28% brown, 23.5% black, with an average of 69.9 years. There was reduced mobility classified as a medium risk for falls in 60% (p<0.013) among the elderly. With reference to groups analyzed, there were significant differences between variables for family income (p <0.029), the occurrence of falls (p <0.006), fear of falls (p <0.023) and near-falls (p <0.000). Blacks fall more often (p <0.03). Statistical significance was revealed between ethnicity and self-reported occurrence of falls, fear of falling and the occurrence of near-falls, functional limitation and medium risk falls due to reduced mobility, with increased frequency of falls for elderly blacks.