REHABILITATION INTERVENTIONS FOR FALL PREVENTION IN ADULTS WITH HEART FAILURE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW PROTOCOL

Heart failure (HF) is associated with high morbidity, recurrent hospitalizations, and progressive functional decline. Changes in functional capacity, including exercise intolerance and muscle weakness, contribute to an increased risk of falls, with approximately 40% of individuals with HF experiencing at least one fall annually. Fall risk in this population is multifactorial, resulting from the interaction of intrinsic, extrinsic, and contextual factors. Although evidence is available regarding multifactorial interventions for fall prevention in older adults, evidence specifically targeting individuals with HF remains limited and heterogeneous.