This study aimed to verify health self-perception, its prevalence and associated factors in institutionalized elderly

Abstract

Objective: To identify the prevalence of cognitive impairment and associated factors among institutionalized elderly persons. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2013 in Long-Term Care Facilities for the elderly in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, featuring 326 elderly persons of both genders. The assessment of cognitive decline was classified using the Pfeiffer test. Information on sociodemographic conditions and health status was also recorded. Nutritional status was assessed by applying the Mini Nutritional Assessment tool and functional capacity with the Katz Index. To identify the factors associated with the presence of moderate or severe cognitive impairment multiple logistic regression analysis of variables with a p value >0.20 was performed, using the Stepwise Forward method. Results: It was observed that 83.6% (95% CI: 78.9 to 87.3%) of the elderly persons had cognitive impairment. The final model, adjusted for type of LTCF, showed that being 83 years old or older was considered a risk factor for moderate or severe cognitive impairment. However, having systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and having been institutionalized through their own choice were considered protective factors for moderate or severe cognitive impairment. Conclusion: the variables age, having SAH and having been institutionalized through their own choice are directly associated, as risk or protection factors, with the presence of severe or moderate cognitive impairment of the elderly population. The early diagnosis of these factors can lead to greater focus in setting goals for prevention and health care, thus improving the quality of life of these individuals.

Objective: The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of falls among institutionalized elderly persons and identify associated factors. Method: A cross-sectional study of elderly residents of Care Facilities For the Elderly in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, was carried out. The elderly persons could walk independently and did not have severe cognitive impairment. Data was obtained about the institution and socio-demographic and health information was collected. A physical examination was performed to evaluate frailty, mobility and balance (Timed up and go, Berg Balance Scale, Gait speed and Sitting-rising Test - SRT). Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-squared Test for a 5% significance level. Results: Sixty-three elderly persons were within the search criteria. Of these 22.2% had fallen in the past year. Only the SRT was associated with these falls. Conclusion: It was concluded that the studied population has a low prevalence of falls, and the ability to perform less than 5 repetitions in the SRT was associated with episodes of falling.

Activity limitations affected almost 73% of institutionalized older people in this sample and were associated with private nursing homes, age, osteoporosis, and institutionalization due to lack of caregiver. Activity limitations exact high socioeconomic impacts and affect the quality of life of older people. The results obtained herein emphasized the importance of planning strategies for their prevention and treatment, directed to reduce the prevalence of this health issue.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a incidência de hospitalização e seus fatores de risco em pessoas idosas institucionalizadas no follow-up de 12 meses na cidade de Natal, RN, Brasil. Método Estudo de coorte concorrente composto por idosos com 60 anos ou mais e que residiam nas 10 Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos (ILPI) participantes do estudo. Nos 320 participantes foram aferidas informações sobre condições sociodemográficas (idade, estado civil, filhos, plano de saúde, tipo de instituição, tempo de institucionalização e se foi por motivo de doença, relação do número de idosos por cuidador e, condições de saúde), estado nutricional (MAN), capacidade funcional (Índice de KATZ), estado cognitivo (teste de Pfeiffer), fraqueza muscular (Dinamômetro). Considerou-se um nível de significância de 5% (p < 0,05) e intervalo de confiança (IC) de 95% na análise bivariada e multivariada. Resultados 20,6% (IC 95%: 16,5-25,4), do total de participantes, foram hospitalizados, com a permanência média de 16,1 dias (dp: 17,1) ao final dos 12 meses. A principal causa da hospitalização foram as doenças pulmonares (30,3%). A presença de desnutrição ou risco de desnutrição (p=0,016; IC95%: 1,17-4,96) e fazer uso de medicamentos para o sistema cardiovascular (p=0,003; IC95%: 1,43-5,77) foram fatores de risco para a hospitalização, após ajustes das variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas. Conclusão A hospitalização teve uma alta incidência entre os idosos. Além disto, a desnutrição ou risco de desnutrição e o uso de medicamentos cardiovasculares foram considerados fatores de risco para a hospitalização no período de 12 meses.

Objective: To verify the impact of the European Consensus on the diagnosis and prevalence of sarcopenia among institutionalized elderly persons in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Method: 219 elderly persons (≥60 years) of both genders were recruited for the study. Two criteria were initially used to calculate the prevalence of sarcopenia: criterion A, based on the European Consensus, considering only elderly persons with good physical and cognitive conditions and criterion B, considering all elderly individuals, regardless of their physical and/or cognitive condition. The association between sarcopenia and gender, age and body mass index (BMI) in the two groups was investigated using the chi-square test and the Student's t-test, with a significance level of 5%. Result: the diagnosis of sarcopenia according to Criterion A revealed a prevalence of 32% (95% CI: 22.54-43.21), whereas Criterion B identified a prevalence of 63.2% (95% CI: 56; 45-69,13). Despite the difference in the prevalence of sarcopenia using the two criteria employed (p<0.001), no differences were observed in terms of the association with gender (p=0.149, p=0.212), BMI (p<0.001, p<0.001), and age (p=0.904, p=353). Conclusion: including only elderly people with good physical and cognitive abilities to calculate sarcopenia, based on the European Consensus, underestimates the prevalence of this condition among institutionalized elderly. As elderly persons with physical or cognitive limitations are extremely typical in the population of care facilities and increased diagnostic calculation for sarcopenia did not interfere with the distribution of associated factors, it is recommended that these individuals are considered in the basis of calculation for future studies of the diagnosis and prevalence of sarcopenia.

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