Submission: 04-13-2015Approval: 12-01-2015 ABSTRACT Objective: to investigate the association between physical frailty and quality of life in elderly users of primary health care in the capital of the state of Paraná. Method: a cross-sectional, quantitative study with 203 elders. Data collected included: physical activity questionnaires, weight loss, fatigue/exhaustion, quality of life, performance of gait speed tests, and handgrip strength. Results: of the 203 older adults, 115 were pre-frail, 49 were non-frail, and 39 were frail, with a signifi cant association with functional capacity and quality of life in all groups. The dimensions resulting from physical aspects, pain, and vitality were associated with those that were non-frail. Conclusion: in this study, frailty syndrome was inversely proportional to the quality of life, and signifi cantly associated with functional capacity of older adults. Physical frailty is a manageable condition which can be targeted through geriatric nursing interventions. Descriptors: Aged; Frail Elderly; Quality of Life; Primary Health Care; Geriatric Nursing. RESUMO Objetivo: investigar a associação entre fragilidade física e qualidade de vida de idosos usuários da atenção básica de saúde da capital paranaense. Método: estudo quantitativo transversal realizado com 203 idosos. Os dados foram coletados mediante questionários de nível de atividade física, perda de peso, fadiga/exaustão, qualidade de vida e realização de testes de velocidade da marcha e força de preensão manual. Resultados: dos 203 idosos, 115 eram pré-frágeis, 49 não frágeis, 39 frágeis, havendo em todos os grupos associação signifi cativa para a dimensão capacidade funcional da qualidade de vida. As dimensões limitações por aspectos físicos, dor e vitalidade foram associadas aos não frágeis. Conclusão: no presente estudo, a síndrome da fragilidade se mostrou inversamente proporcional à qualidade de vida e associada signifi cativamente à capacidade funcional dos idosos. Entende-se que a fragilidade física é uma condição gerenciável e pode ser alvejada por meio de intervenções da enfermagem gerontológica. Descritores: Idoso; Idoso Fragilizado; Qualidade de Vida; Atenção Primária à Saúde; Enfermagem Geriátrica. RESUMEN Objetivo: investigar la relación entre fragilidad física y calidad de vida de ancianos usuarios de la atención primaria de salud en la capital del estado. Método: estudio cuantitativo transversal con 203 ancianos. Los datos se recoletaron a través de cuestionarios de actividad física, pérdida de peso, fatiga/agotamiento, calidad de vida y pruebas de velocidad de marcha y fuerza de prensión. Resultados: de los 203 ancianos, 115 eran pre-frágiles, 49 no frágiles, 39 frágiles, con asociación signifi cativa de la dimensión capacidad funcional de la calidad de vida en todos los grupos. Las dimensiones limitaciones por "aspectos físicos", "dolor" y "vitalidad" se asociaron con aquellos no frágiles. Conclusión: en este estudio, el síndrome de fragilidad era inversamente proporcional a la calidad de vida y sign...

Objective:To investigate the association between handgrip strength (HS) and physical activity in physical frailty elderly. Method: Cross-sectional quantitative study with a sample of 203 elderly calculated based on the population estimated proportion. Tests were applied to detect cognitive impairment and assessment of physical frailty. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis by binary logistic regression were used, and also Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test. Results: A total of 99 (64.3%) elderly showed decreased handgrip strength and 90 (58.4%) elderly presented decrease in physical activity levels. There was a statistically significant difference between these two components (p=0.019), in which elderly who have decreased HS have lower levels of physical activity. For low levels of physical activity and decreased HS, there was no evidence of significant difference in the probability of the classification as frail elderly (p<0.001). Conclusion: The components handgrip strength and physical activity are associated with the frail elderly. The joint presence of low levels of physical activity and decreased handgrip strength leads to a significantly higher probability of the elderly to be categorized as frailty.

RESUMO: Trata-se de estudo quantitativo de corte transversal, cujo objetivo foi relacionar a capacidade funcional entre variáveis sociodemográficas dos idosos longevos usuários da Atenção Básica de Saúde. A amostra foi constituída por 65 idosos de ≥ 80 anos no período amostral de três meses e mediante critérios de inclusão e exclusão. A coleta de dados ocorreu em Unidade Básica de Saúde e domicílios, em 2011, por meio da aplicação de questionário sociodemográfico e escala de Medida de Independência Funcional. Os resultados foram considerados estatisticamente significativos quando p<0,05. As variáveis sociodemográficas significativas para capacidade funcional foram: idade (p=0,044), local de nascimento (p=0,029), com quem mora (p=0,050), renda (p=0,048) e trabalho (p=0,050). Os resultados reforçam a importância de se considerar, durante as ações de cuidados, a interferência de características sociais e demográficas na capacidade funcional dos idosos longevos; elementar para a efetividade e eficácia do cuidado. DESCRITORES: Idoso de 80 anos ou mais; Longevidade; Centros de saúde; Enfermagem geriátrica. ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND THE FUNCTIONAL ABILITY OF VERY ELDERLY PERSONS IN THE COMMUNITYABSTRACT: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional study, aiming to relate functional ability with the socio-demographic variables of the very elderly service users of Primary Health Care. The sample was made up of 65 older adults ≥ 80 years of age in the sampling period of three months, and following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was collected in the Primary Health Care center and in the older adults' homes, in 2011, through the administration of a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Functional Independence Measure scale. The results were considered statistically significant when p<0.05. The socio-demographic variables which were significant for functional capacity were: age (p=0.044), place of birth (p=0.029), with whom the person lives (p=0.050), income (p=0.048) and work (p=0.050). The results support the importance of taking into account, during care actions, how social and demographic characteristics influence the functional capacity of very elderly persons; this is elementary to the effectiveness and efficacy of the care. DESCRIPTORS: Elderly aged 80 or over; Longevity; Health centers; Geriatric nursing. ASOCIACIÓN ENTRE LAS CARACTERÍSTICAS SOCIODEMOGRÁFICAS Y LA CAPACIDAD FUNCIONAL DE ANCIANOS LONGEVOS DE LA COMUNIDAD RESUMEN:Este es un estudio cuantitativo de corte transversal, cuyo objetivo fue relacionar la capacidad funcional entre variables sociodemográficas de los ancianos longevos usuarios de la Atención Básica de Salud. La muestra fue constituida por 65 ancianos de ≥ 80 años en el periodo de tres meses y por medio de criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Los datos fueron recogidos en Unidad Básica de Salud y domicilios, en 2011, por medio de la aplicación de cuestionario sociodemográfico y escala de Medida de Independencia Funcional. Los resultados fueron considerados es...

Objective: Identifying the quality of life of frail elderly patients, users of primary care services. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative study. The sample size was calculated based on the estimate of population proportion and consisted of 203 elderly. Data were collected by using a questionnaire of physical activity for the elderly, fatigue/exhaustion, quality of life, and by carrying out a test of gait speed, handgrip strength and anthropometric measurement. Results: Among the 203 seniors, 39 were fragile. The mean scores for quality of life presented by the frail elderly were the following: 60.4 for pain, functional capacity 61.1, limitations due to physical aspects 71.1, general state of health 71.4, vitality 75, mental health 76.4, emotional aspects 81.1 and social aspects 85.6. Conclusion: The dimensions of quality of life of the frail elderly that had lower mean scores were pain, functional capacity, limitations due to physical aspects and general state of health. ResumoObjetivo: Identificar a qualidade de vida de idosos frágeis usuários da atenção primária. Métodos: Estudo quantitativo transversal. A amostra foi calculada com base na estimativa da proporção populacional e constituída por 203 idosos. Os dados foram coletados mediante questionário de nível de atividade física para idosos, fadiga/exaustão, qualidade de vida e realização de teste de velocidade da marcha, força de preensão manual e medição antropométrica. Resultados: Dos 203 idosos, 39 deles eram frágeis. As médias de qualidade de vida apresentadas pelos idosos frágeis foram: 60,4 para dor, 61,1 capacidade funcional, 71,1 limitações por aspectos físicos, 71,4 estado geral de saúde, 75 vitalidade, 76,4 saúde mental, 81,1 aspectos emocionais e 85,6 aspectos sociais. Conclusão: As dimensões da qualidade de vida dos idosos frágeis que apresentaram menores médias foram dor, capacidade funcional, limitações por aspectos físicos e estado geral de saúde.

Objective: To investigate pre-frailty and factors associated with this condition, considering the levels of physical activity of the elderly. Methods: Cross-sectional quantitative study. The sample was calculated based on the estimated population proportion and comprised 195 older adults receiving care at a Basic Health Unit. Data were collected by means of a sociodemographic/clinical profile questionnaire and a second questionnaire regarding physical activity. Results: Among the 195 subjects participating in the study, 73 had a decreased level of physical activity and were classified as being in a condition of pre-frailty for this component. Conclusion: Pre-frailty for physical activity presented a moderate prevalence and was associated with the age range and the use of medication, such as antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory drugs. ResumoObjetivo: Investigar a pré-fragilidade e os fatores associados a essa condição, considerando o nível de atividade física dos idosos. Métodos: Estudo quantitativo transversal. A amostra foi calculada com base na estimativa da proporção populacional e constituída por 195 idosos usuários de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde. Os dados foram coletados mediante questionário sociodemográfico/clínico e nível de atividade física. Resultados: Dos 195 sujeitos participantes da pesquisa, 73 possuíam diminuição do nível de atividade física, sendo classificados em condição de pré-fragilidade para esse componente. Conclusão: A pré-fragilidade para atividade física possui moderada prevalência e associou-se à faixa etária e ao uso de medicamentos, entre eles anti-hipertensivos e anti-inflamatórios.

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Objective: to investigate pre-frailty and the factors associated with this condition, taking into account the measurements of the older adults' gait speed. Method: participants were selected by means of inclusion/exclusion criteria and a cognitive tracking test. The sample was calculated based on the estimation of populational proportion and made up of 195 older adults who were using a Primary Health-Care Center in Curitiba in the state of Paraná. Data was collected using a sociodemographic/clinical questionnaire and the gait speed test. Results: pre-frailty for gait speed has moderate prevalence (27.3%), and is associated with the 60 -69 years age range, a low level of schooling, not feeling oneself to be alone, using anti-hypertensives, having cardiovascular disease and being overweight. Conclusion: it is considered relevant to identify those older adults with pre-frailty, as this creates the possibility for immediate intervention with the aim of stabilizing the picture. There is a significant shortage of studies on the syndrome of frailty in Brazilian older adults, principally referring to components in isolation. Given that gerontological nursing is at an early stage regarding this issue, it is understood that the identification of the prevalence must be the key point of the research on the matter.