Factors associated with functional loss in the elderly living in the city of Maceió, Northeastern Brazil

Authors

  • Maria do Desterro da Costa e Silva Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Escola Paulista de Medicina; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva
  • Helen Arruda Guimarães Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Escola Paulista de Medicina; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva
  • Euclides Maurício Trindade Filho Universidade Estadual de Ciências da Saúde de Alagoas
  • Solange Andreoni Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Escola Paulista de Medicina; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva
  • Luiz Roberto Ramos Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Escola Paulista de Medicina; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102011005000073

Keywords:

Aged, Activities of Daily Living, Personal Autonomy, Frail Elderly Socioeconomic Factors, Cross-Sectional Studies

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with functional loss in older adults living in the urban area. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a population-based sample of 319 elderly individuals from the municipality of Maceió (Northeastern Brazil), in 2009. To obtain the functional impairment data the Brazilian Older Americans Resources and Services Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire was used. A descriptive analysis, the chi-square test and a regression analysis for crude prevalence ratio were used, and the significance level that was adopted was p <0.05. RESULTS: The majority of participants were females (65.8%) and the mean age was 72 years (SD = 8.83). The prevalence of moderate/severe impairment was 45.5%, and the associated factors were being 75 years old or older, having up to four years of schooling, reporting two or more chronic diseases and being single. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of the elderly with functional impairment reflect inequalities and potential impacts of this population segment on the health services.

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Published

2011-12-01

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 6 (2011)

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Costa e Silva, M. do D. da, Guimarães, H. A., Trindade Filho, E. M., Andreoni, S., & Ramos, L. R. (2011). Factors associated with functional loss in the elderly living in the city of Maceió, Northeastern Brazil . Revista De Saúde Pública, 45(6), 1137-1144. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102011005000073