<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people’s lives and caused changes in habits. The World Health Organization recommends social isolation as a way of minimizing the risk of contagion of the disease. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of the study was to assess the impact of social isolation due to COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and mental health of older adults and to investigate how anthropometric, functional, and clinical aspects are associated with this process. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Fifty healthy older adults were followed-up during 5 months. The subjects had their physical and mental health assessed during social isolation (pre-vaccine situation) and after the opening of stores and activities in the municipality (post-vaccine situation). Physical evaluation was performed using the 30-s sit and stand test. Participants’ mental health was assessed with the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Loneliness Index. In this methodological design, muscle strength, depressive symptoms, and loneliness index were subject to pre-post analyses. In addition, these variables were included as outcomes in linear regression models. Participants’ anthropometric, functional, and clinical factors were included as predictors of the statistical model. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Participants’ scores at baseline were consistent with mild depressive symptoms and low loneliness. The muscle strength of the subjects was appropriate to their ages. After 5 months of social isolation, all variables declined, but with statistical significance only for depressive symptoms (<i>p</i> = 0.017, effect size of 0.11). Anthropometric, functional, and clinical factors explained 42.8% of depressive symptoms, 22.3% of loneliness, and 30.2% of muscle strength in the elderly. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Older adults presented baseline scores consistent with mild depressive symptoms and low loneliness. The muscular strength of the subjects was appropriate for their ages. After 5 months of social isolation, all variables declined. Anthropometric, functional, and clinical factors explained a substantial part of the depressive symptoms, loneliness, and muscular strength in the elderly. Health care professionals should be aware of performing a wide assessment in subjects’ lives to ensure better health status.
Cuidado paliativo (CP) é uma abordagem que promove alívio de sofrimento de pessoas com doenças incuráveis que ameaçam a continuidade da vida. O objetivo deste estudo foi traçar as características dos pacientes com indicação de CP em uma unidade de cuidados prolongados (UCP). Trata-se de um estudo transversal, quantitativo, retrospectivo e com coleta de dados em prontuário. No período do estudo, houve 389 admissões na UCP e, dessas, 31 prontuários foram incluídos para este estudo. Destacou-se a população idosa, compondo mais de 80% da amostra; 54,8% eram mulheres, acometidas principalmente por doenças crônicas relacionadas ao processo de envelhecimento, como as doenças neurodegenerativas e com internação de curto prazo; e 84% foram a óbito. Foi observada a necessidade de fortalecimento dos CPs na Atenção Primária de Saúde, para que os pacientes que receberem alta hospitalar possam receber todo o auxílio e suporte com qualidade em domicílio.
Análise de qualidade de vida associada a aplicação de protocolo de marcha e equilíbrio em pacientes com parkinson Analysis of quality of life associated with the application of protocol of march and balance in patients with parkinson
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.