Various medicines are considered unsuitable for older adults due to alterations in pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, lack of therapeutic efficacy, and/or increased risk of adverse events exceeding potential benefits. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication among older adults in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 1,254 individuals aged 60 years or older (participants in the SABE Study), representing the elderly population of the city in 2006. Potentially inappropriate medication was defined according to the Beers criteria. Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication was 28%. Potentially inappropriate medication was associated with polypharmacy (p=0.001), two or more diseases (p=0.011), and female gender (p=0.007). Thirty-six potentially inappropriate medicines were identified, the majority of which involving prescription medications. Specific criteria are needed for the Brazilian population, in addition to awareness-raising on clinical pharmacology in older adults. Prescription protocols and software programs could assist in the process of rational prescribing in this age group.

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This study examined six musculoskeletal stress marker (MSM) scores that showed reverse sex differences in the previously published research. MSM scores often differ by sex within a population. Most often females have lower MSM scores than do males; however, reverse sex differences do occur. If reverse sex differences are culturally specific, then these MSM scores are more likely caused by activity patterns than biology. Yet, if the same MSM scores show reverse trends in multiple populations, then perhaps these reversals may be the result of biological sex differences, such as hormonal differences and body size, or methodological reasons, such as MSM location. In the current study, deltoideus, pronator quadratus and trapezius MSM scores were significantly more pronounced in males in the California Amerind population examined. Most MSM scores examined significantly correlated with body size and age. With articular size and age controls, only the pronator quadratus and trapezius continued to display significant sex differences. Males had greater MSM pronator quadratus and trapezius scores than did females. The lack of sex differences in four out of six MSM scores may relate to the confounding factor of body size. Thus, it is suggested that some reverse sex differences in the published literature may not relate to activity patterns whereas other MSM sites show more promise.

OBJECTIVE To analyze gender differences in the incidence and determinants of disability regarding instrumental activities of daily living among older adults.METHODS The data were extracted from the Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento (SABE – Health, Wellbeing and Ageing) study. In 2000, 1,034 older adults without difficulty in regarding instrumental activities of daily living were selected. The following characteristics were evaluated at the baseline: sociodemographic and behavioral variables, health status, falls, fractures, hospitalizations, depressive symptoms, cognition, strength, mobility, balance and perception of vision and hearing. Instrumental activities of daily living such as shopping and managing own money and medication, using transportation and using the telephone were reassessed in 2006, with incident cases of disability considered as the outcome.RESULTS The incidence density of disability in instrumental activities of daily living was 44.7/1,000 person/years for women and 25.2/1,000 person/years for men. The incidence rate ratio between women and men was 1.77 (95%CI 1.75;1.80). After controlling for socioeconomic status and clinical conditions, the incidence rate ratio was 1.81 (95%CI 1.77;1.84), demonstrating that women with chronic disease and greater social vulnerability have a greater incidence density of disability in instrumental activities of daily living. The following were determinants of the incidence of disability: age ≥ 80 and worse perception of hearing in both genders; stroke in men; and being aged 70 to 79 in women. Better cognitive performance was a protective factor in both genders and better balance was a protective factor in women.CONCLUSIONS The higher incidence density of disability in older women remained even after controlling for adverse social and clinical conditions. In addition to age, poorer cognitive performance and conditions that adversely affect communication disable both genders. Acute events, such as a stroke, disables elderly men more, whereas early deficits regarding balance disable women more.

RESUMO: Introdução: Fragilidade é uma síndrome evitável e reversível caracterizada pelo declínio cumulativo dos sistemas fisiológicos, causando maior vulnerabilidade às condições adversas. Objetivos: Descrever a prevalência de fragilidade entre os idosos, analisar os fatores associados e a evolução da síndrome. Método: Estudo longitudinal que utilizou a base de dados do Estudo Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento (SABE), nos anos de 2006 e 2010. A síndrome de fragilidade foi identificada por cinco componentes: perda de peso; fadiga; redução de força, de atividade física e de velocidade de caminhada. Os idosos foram classificados como “pré-frágeis” (1-2 componentes) e “frágeis” (3 ou +). Utilizou-se regressão multinomial múltipla hierárquica para análise dos fatores associados. Resultados: Do total de idosos (n = 1.399), 8,5% eram frágeis tendo como fatores associados idade, comprometimento funcional, declínio cognitivo, hospitalização e multimorbidade. Em quatro anos, tornaram-se frágeis 3,3% dos idosos não frágeis e 14,7% dos pré-frágeis. Conclusão: A identificação da prevalência e dos fatores associados à fragilidade pode ajudar a implementar intervenções adequadas precocemente, de modo a garantir melhorias na qualidade de vida dos idosos.

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OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of anemia and associated factors in older adults.METHODS The prevalence and factors associated with anemia in older adults were studied on the basis of the results of the Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento (SABE – Health, Welfare and Aging) study. A group of 1,256 individuals were interviewed during the third wave of the SABE study performed in Sao Paulo, SP, in 2010. The study included 60.4% females; the mean age of the participants was 70.4 years, and their average education was 5.3 years. The dependent variable was the presence of anemia (hemoglobin levels: 12 g/dL in women and 13 g/dL in men). Descriptive analysis and hierarchical logistic regression were performed. The independent variables were as follows: a) demographics: gender, age, and education and b) clinical characteristics: self-reported chronic diseases, presence of cognitive decline and depression symptoms, and body mass index.RESULTS The prevalence of anemia was 7.7% and was found to be higher in oldest adults. There was no difference between genders, although the hemoglobin distribution curve in women showed a displacement toward lower values in comparison with the distribution curve in men. Advanced age (OR = 1.07; 95%CI 0.57;1.64; p < 0.001), presence of diabetes (OR = 2.30; 95%CI 1.33;4.00; p = 0.003), cancer (OR = 2.72; 95%CI 1.2;6.11; p = 0.016), and presence of depression symptoms (OR = 1.75; 95%CI 1.06;2.88; p = 0.028) remained significant even after multiple analyses.CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of anemia in older adults was 7.7% and was mainly associated with advanced age and presence of chronic diseases. Thus, anemia can be an important marker in the investigation of health in older adults because it can be easily diagnosed and markedly affects the quality of life of older adults.

Strategies for preventing or delaying the installation of frailty need to address gender differences, considering the greater complexity in the network determinants among women.