[Socio-demographic differentials in the functional decline among the elderly in Brazil]

Leisure time physical activity among older adults in Brazil: a time series analysis of a population-based survey (2009-2020)

The practice of leisure time physical activity brings several health benefits, such as the prevention of noncommunicable diseases. Investigating the temporal trend of physical activity practice in older adults by sociodemographic characteristics and geographical regions could be important to plan public health policies and effective interventions. This is a time series study that analyzes the temporal trend of leisure time physical activity among Brazilian older adults with data from 2009 to 2020. For this, we used a sample of 186,097 older adults (≥ 60 years old) obtained from the Risk and Protective Factors Surveillance System for Chronic Noncomunicable Diseases Through Telephone Interview (Vigitel) (2009-2020). Information on leisure time physical activity and sociodemographic and health characteristics were collected. Prais-Winsten regression was used to identify significant trends in the annual variation of the leisure time physical activity indicators. Practice of ≥ 150 minutes/week of moderate intensity leisure time physical activity varied from 23.3% to 27.5% (0.41p.p./year) (2009-2020), with a higher increase during 2015-2020 (0.59p.p./year). The increase in the most recent period occurred among men, aged from 60 to 69 years, with lower educational level, residing in the Northeast Region, and without self-reported chronic diseases. These results may contribute to the evaluation of Brazilian health policies targeting the leisure time physical activity practice in older adults.

Association of Functional Disability and Biopsychosocial Factors in Older Adults With Low Back Pain Who Live in the Amazonas State Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to identify social and clinical factors associated with levels of functional disability (FD) in older adults with low back pain (LBP) in the city of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 557 adults with LBP aged ≥60 years was completed. Sociodemographic and clinical features, pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale), FD (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short version), body mass index, educational level, health perception, emotional level, and self-reported diseases were evaluated. Statistical analysis was used to verify the association between quantitative variables and a group; Student t test or Mann-Whitney test, and analysis of variance (normality assumption) or Kruskal-Wallis test (non-parametric), P value of less than .05.

RESULTS

There were 81.3% female participants, 54.9% self-reported their race and/or skin color as brown, and 37.8% were sedentary. Pain intensity scores were 6.26 ± 2.19 in female participants and 5.82 ± 1.84 in male participants. Mean FD scores were 11.68 ± 6.08 for female participants and 9.61 ± 5.76 for males participants, although 39.7% of the total group presented with severe disability (score ≥14) and FD was associated with female sex (P = .001), physical activity (P≤ 0.001), body mass index (P≤ .001), emotional level (P < .001), and health perception (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

In this group of older adults with LBP, FD was associated with female sex, level of physical activity, body mass index, emotional level, and health perception. Many factors that were identified with FD are modifiable; therefore, interventions, such as nutrition education and re-conceptualization of self-emotional and health perception, may have potential to help in preventing and reducing FD.

Does multimorbitdity interfere with the fundtionality of the physically active elderly?

Abstract Introduction: Multimorbidity is currently considered as a relevant clinical condition due to its severity and the high prevalence among the elderly. Objective: Assessing whether multimorbidity is an intervening factor in the functionality of the physically active elderly. Method: This is a cross-sectional study carried out with 70 older people of both sexes who practice exercises at the Fitness zones (FZ) in the municipality of Maringá, state of Paraná. A sociodemographic questionnaire, and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale (WHO-DAS 2.0) were used as instruments. Data analysis was performed by using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney test and Spearman’s rank correlation, in addition to the Path Analysis (p <0.05). Results: the elderly who have more than two diseases showed worse functionality than the ones with none or from 1 to 2 diseases (p <0.05). The number of diseases showed a significant association (p <0.05) with a reduction in functional domain scores, which explains from 15% to 31% of the variable’s variability. Specifically, the number of diseases was positively associated with the strong effect on the domains referred to as self-care (β = 0.56) and cognition (β = 0.55), besides a moderate effect on interpersonal relationships (β = 0.39) and social participation domains (β = 0.39). Conclusion: it was concluded that multimorbidity can be considered as an intervening factor in the functionality of elderly people who practice physical activity.

[Multimorbidity profile associated with disability among the elderly living in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil]

The scope of this paper was to investigate the associations of disability in three domains (BADL, IADL and mobility) with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and multimorbidity profile, among the elderly living in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (MRBH). A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 2,172 elderly persons (60 years and over). Disability, for each domain (BADL, IADL and mobility), was assessed as reporting great difficulty or need for help to perform at least one activity among those investigated, and self-reported diseases included arterial hypertension, myocardial infarction or angina, stroke, diabetes, and combinations of these diseases. Adjusted Poisson regression was used, and the attributable population fraction was also estimated. A major contribution of Cerebral Vascular Accidents (strokes) to disability in all domains was observed, especially BADLs, as well as the presence of infarction or angina in disability in IADLs and mobility, especially when combined with diabetes and hypertension. The multimorbidity profile can be used to identify vulnerable groups, which should be the target of prevention and rehabilitation, reducing the financial and social cost of this event among the elderly.

Association between disability and social capital among community-dwelling elderly

Objective

To assess the prevalence of disability and its association with social capital among community-dwelling elderly.

Methods

The study was based on 2nd Health Survey of Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region - 2010, that included 1,995 community-dwelling elderly, randomly sampled. The exposure of interest was social capital, measured by confidence in neighborhood, perception of the physical environment, sense of cohesion in housing, and neighborhood perception of help. Socio-demographic variables, health conditions and use of health services were considered in the analysis with the purpose of adjustment.

Results

Approximately one third of participants (32.6%) were unable to at least one instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) and/or basic activity of daily living (ADL); the prevalence of disability in ADL/IADL was 18.1%, and only in IADL was 14.6%. Elderly with functional disabilities had higher odds of poor social capital, but only the sense of cohesion in housing neighborhood showed to be independently associated with functional disability (OR = 1.80; 95%CI 1.12 - 2.88).

Conclusions

Our results show the importance of social capital in research on associated factors of functional disability and indicate the need to implement public policies for social and environmental areas, since the needs of the elderly require measures beyond those typical of the health sector.

Factors associated with mobility of the oldest old

Abstract Introduction: Several factors can be associated to the reduction of mobility among the elderly. Early identification of these factors is crucial, since it may lead to prevention of functional dependencies. Objective: To analyze the association between mobility, sociodemographic factors and the prevalence of noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs) in oldest old. Methods: The sample consisted of 120 elderly persons aged (80 and 95 years), with 76 of them being women (83 ± 3 years) and 44 of them men (83 ± 3 years). Sociodemographic factors and NCDs which we studied were: age, gender, marital status, education, nutritional status, ethnicity, hypertension, diabetes and osteoarticular diseases. Mobility was analyzed using a battery of Physical Performance Tests. For statistical analysis we used the chi-square test and binary logistic regression to examine the relationship between sociodemographic factors, NCDs and mobility. SPSS (17.0) software was used for this and the significance level was set at 5%. Results: Level of education (p ≤ 0.001) and age (p = 0.034) are the two factors related to low mobility. However, the model built by multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age is independently related to limited mobility in oldest old people (OR 3.29; 95% CI 1.09 to 9.87). Conclusion: Thus, oldest old >85 years are at a greater risk of decreased mobility independent of their education, marital and nutritional statuses and gender. We encourage further studies in this area. Studies which will not only address those facts considered in this study but that also examine family-related aspects, especially using longitudinal studies.

Functional disability for mobility in adults: a population-based study

Abstract Introduction: Functional disability is an important health indicator associated with worse quality of life. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of functional disability for mobility and to identify factors associated with difficulty going up and down stairs in adults aged 40 years or over. Methods: Cross-sectional, population-based study, with residents of the Municipality of Cambé, PR, interviewed in 2011. The dependent variable was the difficulty of going up and down stairs. Analysis of associated factors was performed using Poisson regression for each subgroup (40 - 59 years and 60 years or older). Results: In total, 24% of the subjects presented some kind of difficulty going up stairs (p < .01). In both subgroups, a significantly higher prevalence in women, among those inactive during leisure time and those with a history of cerebrovascular disease was observed. In the subgroup aged 40 to 59 years, age 50 - 59 years, hypertension, diabetes and falls in the previous 12 months were also associated with the outcome. Conclusion: The results suggest the need to expand the actions of health promotion, prevention and control of chronic conditions, especially among middle-aged people.

Anthropometric, functional capacity, and oxidative stress changes in Brazilian community-living elderly subjects. A longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the changes and relationships among anthropometric, functional and plasma oxidative stress markers in elderly.

DESIGN

longitudinal study.

SETTING

measurements in 2008 and 2010.

PARTICIPANTS

103 community-dwelling men and women aged 67-92.

MEASUREMENTS

Anthropometric parameters [waist, hip, arm and calf circumferences; waist-hip ratio, triceps skinfold thickness and others], basic (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)] and plasma oxidative stress markers (α-tocopherol, β-carotene and malondialdehyde) were assessed in 2008 and 2010.

RESULTS

ADL, IADL, body weight, skinfold thickness and circumferences of calf and arm decreased and waist and waist-hip ratio increased from 2008 to 2010. α-Tocopherol decreased and malondialdehyde plasma levels increased during the study period. In multiple logistic regression analyses, increased age (OR=1.12; IC: 1.02-1.23; p=0.02), female gender (OR=8.43; IC: 1.23-57.58; p=0.03), hypertension (OR=0.22; IC: 0.06-0.79; p=0.02), arthritis/arthrosis (OR=0.09; IC: 0.009-0.87; p=0.04) and depression (OR=0.20; IC: 0.04-1.03; p=0.05) were independent risk factors for functional decline.

CONCLUSION

Fat reduction, muscle loss, central obesity increase, functional decline and worsening of plasma oxidative stress were observed during 2-year follow-up. Some of the risk factors that were identified could be modified to help prevent functional decline in elderly. The factors deserving attention include hypertension, arthritis/arthrosis and depression.

Prevalence of functional incapacity by gender in elderly people in Brazil: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Abstract Considering that functional capacity is an important indicator of health in aging, the present study aimed to describe the prevalence of disability by gender among elderly people in Brazil through a systematic review and meta-analysis of articles about this subject. Articles published up to June 2013 were included, and a search was performed of the MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct electronic databases. The inclusion of articles in the systematic review was guided by the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) and by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A descriptive analysis of the selected articles was performed and expressed in a forest-plot type graph. Of 3,656 articles initially identified in all the databases, 2,585 duplicates were excluded and 23 articles were deemed eligible for review. Prevalence rates ranged from 12.3% to 94.1% for men and from 14.9% to 84.6% for women. The methods used to assess functional capacity in elderly people in Brazil also differed between the articles. This variation complicates the comparison of results between the articles, demonstrating the need for standardized methods of measuring functional capacity.

Efeitos da intervenção com game na atenção e na independência funcional em idosos após acidente vascular encefálico

RESUMO O envelhecimento da população vem aumentando o número de doenças crônicas que resultam em limitações cognitivas e motoras, como o acidente vascular encefálico (AVE). O objetivo da pesquisa foi investigar os efeitos do game Motion Rehab na atenção e na independência em idosos após AVE. Trata-se de um estudo com intervenção controle antes e depois, em que participaram 10 idosos de ambos os sexos, com idade média de 67,7±7,1 anos, com predominância do AVE isquêmico e frequentadores de um Centro de Reabilitação Física. As sessões foram realizadas individualmente uma vez por semana, com duração de 15 minutos, em um período de 15 semanas. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o "Miniexame do estado mental", a "Medida de independência funcional" (MIF), a "Escala de depressão geriátrica" e o "Teste de trilhas coloridas". Na análise dos dados foi utilizado o teste t de Student para amostras pareadas. Os resultados determinaram diferenças significativas na atenção e na independência após as intervenções com o game. No teste de trilhas coloridas o tempo de execução reduziu de 330,5±140,8 segundos na avaliação para 259,4±112,5 segundos na reavaliação (p=0,039), além da interferência do profissional psicólogo também reduzir de 0,8±0,5 para 0,4±0,3 (p=0,036). A MIF teve inicialmente um escore de 102,3±23,4 (dependência modificada) e na reavaliação 107±18,6 (independência modificada) (p=0,044). Foi possível concluir que a intervenção trouxe benefícios aos idosos, tornando-se uma alternativa para a reabilitação física e cognitiva dessa população.

Cognitive function of elderly residents in long-term institutions: effects of a physiotherapy program

The increase in the size of the elderly population demands new knowledge about the process of healthy and active aging. Cognitive disorders are directly associated with aging, and therefore represent a public health problem. A longitudinal and interventional study with a quantitative approach was performed with the aim of analyzing the effects of a physical therapy program aimed at health promotion on the cognitive ability of institutionalized elderly women. Data was collected using a sociodemographic and clinical form and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) at three time points (baseline, after 10 interventions and after 20 interventions). The health promotion program consisted of 20 recreational group activities in weekly meetings lasting an hour. Statistical analysis used the paired Student's t-test and Analysis of variance, with a significance level of p<0.05. The sample consisted of 24 elderly persons, with a mean age of 80.04 years. The results showed improvement in the performance of the elderly, both in overall MMSE score (T0=19.22 vs. T2=28.33, p=0.01) and in the evaluated subcategories "time orientation" (T0=3.35 vs. T2=3.57, p=0.02), "record" (T0=2.61 vs. T2=2.95, p<0.01), "memory recall" (T0=1.78 vs. T2=2.71, p<0.01), "read and execute" (T0=0.43 vs. T2=0.67, p=0.01) and "copy diagram" (T0=0.26 vs. T2=0, 48, p=0.02). These findings suggest that physical therapy for health promotion purposes enables improvement in performance of cognitive activities of institutionalized elderly persons, thus contributing to a better quality of life.

Household arrangements of elderly persons in Brazil: analyses based on the national household survey sample (2009)

Introduction Increased longevity and, consequently, a rise in the number of elderly persons in Brazil, has an effect on different sectors, especially family living arrangements. Objective To analyze the socioeconomic profile of the family living arrangements of the elderly using PNAD micro-data (2009). Method A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study using PNAD micro-data (2009) was performed. The elderly family living arrangements that constituted households in Brazil were analyzed. Results: The results indicated that the most representative arrangement was a couple who lived with their children and other relatives, followed by single parent units and couples with children. The head of household in most of the arrangements featuring a couple with children and other relatives was a man, while in one-person, single parent and mixed arrangements the head of household was more likely to be a woman. Conclusion Decisions regarding the type of family arrangement are attributed not only to the elderly individual and his or her family, but are the result of historical, sociocultural, political, economic and demographic factors, which may positive or negatively interfere with the quality of life of elderly persons.

Oral Lesions in Elderly Patients in Referral Centers for Oral Lesions of Bahia

Introduction The aging population phenomenon is occurring on a global scale; aging affects all of the structures of organisms, including the oral cavity.

Objective To estimate the frequency of oral lesions, according to the clinical and histopathologic diagnoses, and to describe the sociodemographic profile of the elderly treated at the referral centers of oral lesions of public universities in Bahia, Brazil.

Methods A descriptive epidemiologic study with transverse characteristics was conducted with elderly patients between August 2010 and January 2012. A form was used to collect data. The descriptive analysis consisted of calculating the simple and relative frequencies of sociodemographic variables and oral lesions.

Results The population was predominantly black women, and the minority of elderly people were retired. Fibroid (13%) and squamous cell carcinoma (145%) were more prevalent clinical diagnoses, with squamous cell carcinoma (30.7%) and fibrous hyperplasia more prevalent histopathologic diagnoses.

Conclusion A prevention policy needs to be implemented to reduce new cases of oral lesions in Bahia, Brazil and to aid in early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of oral lesions.

The role of first use of inhalants within sequencing pattern of first use of drugs among Brazilian university students

The present study investigated the role of first use of inhalants within a first drug sequencing pattern. In a representative sample of university students from 27 Brazilian capitals (n = 12,711), we analyzed the patterns of transition from/to first use of inhalants to/from the first use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, ecstasy, amphetamines, prescription opioids, and tranquilizers. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze data. Drugs that were not specified as the pair of drugs tested in each model were included as time-varying covariates in all models. In this sample, first use of inhalants was preceded only by the first use of alcohol and tobacco. However, first use of inhalants preceded first use of cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine, and tranquilizers. First use of inhalants preceded the first use of prescription opioids, and vice versa. This study highlights the need to intervene early with youths who are at risk of or just beginning to use inhalants, because this class of drugs seems to be the first illegal drug in Brazil to be experimented by respondents in our sample. There is also a call for attention to individuals who have already first used inhalants because of their higher chance to experiment with other drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, and prescription drugs. All these findings show an in-transition culture of drug use, which should be tracked through time, because some classical models (i.e., gateway model) might be outdated and might also not fit within different settings.

[Disability and use of health services by the elderly in Greater Metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil: a population-based study]

This study focused on the association between disability and use of health services among elderly individuals in Greater Metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The study included 1,624 elderly patients (≥ 60 years) selected by representative sampling. The dependent variable was use of health services, based on three descriptors: number of physician visits, home consultations, and hospitalizations. The target independent variable was disability, including difficulty in performing activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). IADL was only associated with hospitalization (PR = 1.62; 95%CI: 1.16-2.26), while ADL was associated with hospitalization (PR = 1.73; 95%CI: 1.24-2.42) and home consultations (PR = 8.54; 95%CI: 4.22-17.27). The findings show increased use of health services (especially more costly ones) among older adults with disabilities, and that functional health dimensions have not oriented health services, still largely conditioned on the presence of diseases.

The role of drug use sequencing pattern in further problematic use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other drugs

BACKGROUND

There has been considerable debate regarding what typically occurs after experimentation with drugs throughout the life of young people who used various drugs.

AIMS

To evaluate the clinical importance of the most common sequence for the first use of a drug by two models (the "gateway model" and the "alternative model", which is the most popular sequence for Brazilian university students according to a previous study) regarding the problematic use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other illegal drugs, assessed by ASSIST.

METHOD

People who had already experimented with three or more drugs across different stages of the two models were selected from a representative sample of university students from 27 Brazilian capitals (n = 12 711).

FINDINGS

There were no differences regarding the problematic use of the most consumed drugs in Brazil (alcohol, tobacco and cannabis) between the models. Multiple drug seekers and violators had more problematic use of illegal drugs other than cannabis than individuals in the model sequence. However, in the case of violators, this was only evident in the alternative model.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple drug seekers and violators deserve special attention due to their increased risk of problematic use of other illegal drugs.

The association of health and income in the elderly: experience from a southern state of Brazil

OBJECTIVES

In high income, developed countries, health status tends to improve as income increases, but primarily through the 50(th)-66(th) percentile of income. It is unclear whether the same limitation holds in middle income countries, and for both general assessments of health and specific conditions.

METHODS

Data were obtained from Brazil, a middle income country. In-person interviews with a representative sample of community residents age ≥ 60 (N=6963), in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, obtained information on demographic characteristics including household income and number of persons supported, general health status (self-rated health, functional status), depression, and seven physician-diagnosed, self-reported health conditions. Analyses used household income (adjusted for number supported and economies of scale) together with higher order income terms, and controlled for demographics and comorbidities, to ascertain nonlinearity between income and general and specific health measures.

RESULTS

In fully controlled analyses income was associated with general measures of health (linearly with self-rated health, nonlinearly with functional status). For specific health measures there was a consistent linear association with depression, pulmonary disorders, renal disorders, and sensory impairment. For musculoskeletal, cardiovascular (negative association), and gastrointestinal disorders this association no longer held when comorbidities were controlled. There was no association with diabetes.

CONCLUSION

Contrary to findings in high income countries, the association of household-size-adjusted income with health was generally linear, sometimes negative, and sometimes absent when comorbidities were controlled.

Educational and sex differentials in life expectancies and disability-free life expectancies in São Paulo, Brazil, and urban areas in Mexico

OBJECTIVE

To estimate transition probabilities between disability states, total life expectancy, and the latter's decomposition into years spent disabled and disability-free by age, sex, and education among older adults in São Paulo, Brazil, and urban areas in Mexico.

METHODS

Applied a micro-simulation method (Interpolative Markov Chains) using longitudinal data.

RESULTS

We found large between-country educational differences in incidence of and recovery from disability with higher rates in Mexico than in São Paulo, but no differences in mortality. Older adults in Mexico spent longer time being disability-free than in São Paulo for both levels of education. Males and females in São Paulo spent a larger fraction of their remaining life disabled at every age than their counterparts in urban areas in Mexico.

DISCUSSION

There were educational differences in the prevalence of disability in São Paulo and urban areas in Mexico, and significant educational differences in disability incidence and recovery across sites.

Capacidade funcional de idosos atendidos em um programa do SUS em Belém (PA)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar fatores associados à capacidade funcional em idosos atendidos em um programa de saúde pública em Belém (PA). Realizou-se estudo seccional com 259 idosos atendidos no programa Hiperdia/SUS no período de março a julho de 2010. Os idosos foram avaliados pelo teste de desempenho físico modificado, validado no Brasil. Nas análises foram utilizados o teste do qui-quadrado de Pearson, a análise de variância e a regressão. Os idosos tinham em média 68,3 anos (DP ± 6,2) e 71,0% eram do sexo feminino. Após ajustes por variáveis de confundimento, observaram-se maiores chances de pior desempenho no teste entre as mulheres, os mais velhos e os de menor escolaridade, além de queixa de dor no joelho, diagnóstico anterior de catarata e autoavaliação de saúde regular/ruim. A capacidade funcional é um indicador de saúde importante para se identificar precocemente riscos de incapacidade e requerendo uma avaliação periódica, no intuito de se buscar estratégias cuidativas para a manutenção da independência dos idosos.

Gerenciamento de doença crônica: equívoco para o grupo etário dos idosos

Alterações nos estilos de vida (mudanças dos hábitos alimentares, aumento do sedentarismo e estresse) e maior expectativa de vida aumentam a incidência das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, principais causas de óbito e incapacidade no Brasil. Sua gestão passou a ser considerada importante pelos gestores na busca de intervenções e estratégias para reduzir custos, diminuir hospitalizações e combater agravos. Mas a maior parte dos programas de atendimento foca exclusivamente na doença, e isso é um erro. Modelos que funcionem de modo integrado e deem conta das necessidades dos pacientes serão mais efetivos. O objetivo deste artigo foi contribuir para a discussão de políticas e estratégias que permitam a indução de modelos de atenção ao idoso com ênfase em projetos preventivos e resolutivos.

Instrumental activities of daily living performance in healthy and cognitively intact seniors from a Brazilian sample and its relation to age and other socio-demographic variables

BACKGROUND

Studies on functional capacity in community-dwelling older people have shown associations between declines in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and several factors. Among these, age has been the most consistently related to functional capacity independent of other variables. We aimed at evaluating the performance of a sample of healthy and cognitively intact Brazilian older people on activities of daily living and to analyze its relation to social-demographic variables.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected for previous epidemiological studies with community-dwelling subjects aged 60 years or more. We selected subjects who did not have dementia or depression, and with no history of neurological diseases, heart attack, HIV, hepatitis or arthritis (n = 1,111). Functional capacity was assessed using the Brazilian version of the Older American Resources and Services Questionnaire (BOMFAQ). ADL performance was analyzed according to age, gender, education, and marital status (Pearson's χ2, logistic regression).

RESULTS

IADL difficulties were present in our sample, especially in subjects aged 80 years or more, with lower levels of education, or widowed. The logistic regression analysis results indicated that "higher age" and "lower education" (p ≤ 0.001) remained significantly associated with IADL difficulty.

CONCLUSIONS

Functional decline was present in older subjects even in the absence of medical conditions and cognitive impairment. Clinicians and researchers could benefit from knowing what to expect from older people regarding IADL performance in the absence of medical conditions.

Factors associated with functional ability in Brazilian elderly

The purpose of this observational study, designed as a cross-sectional sample of 621 elderly residents in Viçosa, Minas Gerais state, Brazil was to evaluate the prevalence of inadequate functional ability and associated factors in Brazilian elderly. Interviews were conducted at study subjects' houses using a questionnaire focused on socio demographic information and health conditions. Elderly who reported some difficulty in performing six or more activities, or total inability to carry out at least three activities identified on the scale developed by Katz et al. (1963) and Lawton and Brody (1969) were considered to have inadequate functional ability. Data analysis included frequency distribution, bivariate and multivariate Poisson regression. The prevalence of inadequate functional ability was of 16.2% (95% CI: 13-19%) in the sample analyzed. With aging, there was a significant trend of inadequate functional ability increasing in men (χ(2) for trend=8.481; p=0.003) and women (χ(2) trend=13.667; p<0.001). Factors positively associated with inadequate functional ability were age over 80 years, low monthly income, poor self-health perception, history of hospitalization in the last year, use of 5 or more medicines in the last 15 days; history of depression, history of osteoporosis, and negatively associated to physical activity. Factors associated with inadequate functional ability highlighted in this study demonstrate the importance of health programs in Brazil focused on adults and the elderly in preventing or delaying functional decline and promote healthy aging.

O custo direto da fratura de fêmur por quedas em pessoas idosas: análise no setor privado de saúde na cidade de Brasília, 2009

OBJETIVO: estimar o custo direto dos recursos médico-hospitalares utilizados no tratamento cirúrgico da fratura de fêmur decorrente de quedas durante a hospitalização e pós-operatório até dois meses após a lesão. MÉTODO: estudo transversal, descritivo e retrospectivo em pacientes de ambos os sexos, com 60 anos ou mais de idade, no período de janeiro de 2008 a junho de 2009. Os dados foram extraídos das contas hospitalares de um convênio credenciado à rede hospitalar privada da cidade de Brasília. RESULTADOS: a frequência de fratura por quedas para o sexo feminino foi 76,2% (n=16), e no masculino, 23,8%(n=5), sendo que 66,7% (n=14) das lesões resultaram em fratura de fêmur proximal. A média de permanência hospitalar das cirurgias foi de 7,1 dias e 2,7 dias em UTI. Houve 16 pacientes com fratura de fêmur e a média do tratamento cirúrgico foi R$ 39.160,75, totalizando R$ 626.572,06. O custo direto dos recursos médico-hospitalares durante a internação ficou entre R$ 8.293,55 e R$ 139.837,50; já no pós-operatório, corresponderam a 5,7% do custo total da internação. CONCLUSÃO: o custo cirúrgico da fratura de fêmur é considerável para os convênios do sistema de saúde suplementar e confirmou a vulnerabilidade do sexo feminino para as fraturas de quadril. As maiores despesas foram com a prótese, material e medicamentos, e variaram em função do tipo de cirurgia, período de hospitalização e faixa etária.

[Public policies for the elderly's health: systematic review]

The objective of this work was to analyze the development of health of the elderly based on references contained in the main databases. Study of systematic review considering the period from 01/09/08 to 30/09/08 in the databases of the Library of Health to check that the information was held to organize the content on the year, publication type and methods / techniques, content and essence of the production of knowledge, database, the authors' recommendations. The results emphasize the development of research focused on the dissemination and results of health policies and their knowledge by health professionals who care for elderly is a necessary direction and specific training.

Aging and Urbanization: The Neighborhood Perception and Functional Performance of Elderly Persons in Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Area-Brazil

Currently, half of the world population resides in cities. The percentage of world population that is elderly is expected to double from 11% to 22% by 2050 and will be concentrated in urban areas of developing countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional status of elderly who live in the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Area, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was employed as the theoretical model. Probabilistic sampling was used to select 1,611 elderly persons (defined as >/=60 years) for the study. The response variable "functional performance" was developed by counting the number of basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) that subjects found difficult to carry out. A zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression model was fitted to the data. The prevalence of disability was 47.1%. Neighborhood self-perception revealed that 84.0% of the elderly were satisfied with their neighborhood, although only 18.4% trusted people around them. Concerns about walking around the neighborhood were: fear of being robbed (78.0%) and fear of falling due to sidewalk defects (48.2%), which caused a 62% increase in the number of ADL carried out with difficulty. It is well known that there is a continuous tendency for functional results to improve as the frequency of walking increases. Thus, urban infrastructure interventions, such as improving public sidewalks, might influence the frequency of elderlies walking in their neighborhoods. Making walking possible-or even pleasant-could increase their social participation and use of services.