Factors correlated with the frailty of elderly in outpatient care: difference between age groups

Abstract

Objective to correlate socio-demographic and health variables of elderly people of different age groups with frailty. Method this is a quantitative, cross-sectional study conducted with 50 elderly individuals seen at a Gerontology Outpatient Clinic in the interior of São Paulo. Socio-demographic and health data were collected, including: frailty, cognitive performance, dependence on Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, and depressive symptoms. For data analysis, the Spearman correlation test was used. Results there was a predominance of women, with a mean age of 79.4 (±9.4) years and low education. A total of 58.3% of the elderly aged between 60 and 79 years and 84.6% of those above 80 years were considered frail. In the first group, there was a correlation between frailty and a higher number of medications, worse cognitive performance, and dependence on Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. In the oldest old, frailty correlated with a greater number of morbidities, worse cognitive performance, and dependence on Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. Conclusion and implications for practice the correlations found allow the establishment of measures to improve the planning of actions aimed at outpatient care, enabling the organization of prevention and intervention priorities.

Síndrome da fragilidade e qualidade de vida em pessoas idosas hospitalizadas

“…Com o avanço da idade, pessoas idosas passam a apresentar mais morbidades e, por conseguinte, maior uso de medicamentos. Embora a presença de quaisquer comorbidades sejam indicativos de fragilidade, sua ocorrência pode preceder a síndrome e tornar a pessoa idosa propensa à fragilidade a partir dos 80 anos, com risco de 1,24 vezes maior quando comparado aquelas que possuem entre 65 a 79 anos 21,22 .…”

Frailty syndrome and quality of life in hospitalized older adults

“…With increasing age, older people experience more morbidities and, consequently, make greater use of medications. Although the presence of comorbidities is indicative of frailty, their occurrence can precede the syndrome itself, rendering the individual more prone to frailty from 80 years of age or older, with a 1.24 times higher risk of frailty compared to those aged 65-79 years 21,22 .…”