Two-year follow-up study of elderly residents in S. Paulo, Brazil: methodology and preliminary results

Abstract

IntroductionPrevious cross-sectional studies have shown a high prevalence of chronic disease and disability among the elderly. Given Brazil's rapid aging process and the obvious consequences of the growing number of old people with chronic diseases and associated disabilities for the provision of health services, a need was felt for a study that would overcome the limitations of crosssectional data and shed some light on the main factors determining whether a person will live longer and free of disabling diseases, the so-called successful aging. The methodology of the first follow-up study of elderly residents in Brazil is presented.

Use of psychoactive drugs and related falls among older people living in a community in Brazil

“…In Rio de Janeiro, the prevalence of "mild depression" ranged between 20% and 35% 15 and in S. Paulo 23% of the women studied were considered possible cases of "psychiatric disorders". 12 Sleep disorders are also highly prevalent among older people (41% in one study mentioned above), 6 not only because of their association with dementia, anxiety and depression, but also due to age-related co-morbidities and changes in sleep patterns. 9 Delirium episodes in older people are provoked by diverse causes, such as erysipelas or heart failure and frequently are not diagnosed.…”

“…4 The rising prevalence of chronic diseases and physical disability observed in those countries has also been verified in studies performed in large Brazilian cities. 6,12,15 In this age group, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Parkinson's or Alzheimer's diseases) and affective disorders (e.g.…”

“…anxiety, depression) cause a high prevalence of mental health problems, which leads to increased use of psychoactive drugs. 6,9,12,15 Signs and symptoms of these conditions in older people are often misinterpreted, sometimes leading to incorrect therapeutic approaches and the related adverse effects. 4,5,11 The purpose of this retrospective study is to ascertain whether there is an association between falls and psychoactive medication use in older residents living in a community in Brazil.…”

The Bambuí health and ageing study (BHAS): methodological approach and preliminary results of a population-based cohort study of the elderly in Brazil

“…The aim is to describe the profile of the study population and to compare their characteristics with those from participants of epidemiological studies of the elderly carried out in two large cities of Brazil. 24,29 The following characteristics were considered: demographic (age, gender, marital status and living arrangements); socio-economic (income and education); satisfaction with social network and with free time arrangements; main problem reported and self perception of health. The associations between discrete variables and their magnitudes were estimated using the odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals.…”

“…4,6,12,13,17,21,25,26,30 In Brazil, to our knowledge, there have been few population based studies on the epidemiology of the aged. All of them were carried out in large urban areas and all but one 24 were crosssectional studies. 22,23,29 Epidemiologic studies of the ageing population in developing countries are important, among other reasons, to: (1) estimate the prevalence of diseases, as www.fsp.usp.br/rsp…”