Disability relating to basic and instrumental activities of daily living: a zopulation-based study with elderly in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 2014

Sleep and Life Quality in Frail Elderly - A Narrative Review

Introduction  Population aging is a growing reality worldwide, characterized by a rapidly developing event that is not always associated with quality of life. Elderly health stands out, pointing to the need for public health policies that ensure effective and resolutive approaches for this population, and should be applied especially by primary health care, through actions that encourage active aging. The present review aimed to identify whether sleep disorders impact the quality of life in frail elderly. Methods  We proceeded with the selection of keywords that led to the search of articles. The search was defined in the Lilacs, PubMed, and Embase databases, conducted from July to November, 2020.We have found a total of 455 articles, of which 9 were included in the present review. Results  The studies obtained subjective (self-report and questionnaires) and objective (devices and exams) data that characterized frailty, disorders, and sleep quality in the elderly. Some studies have found a relationship between frailty and sleep disorders in women, others in men, and some have identified the existence of a relationship between these factors and the age of the participants who composed the samples. Conclusion  Based in our results, we conclude that disorders and poor sleep quality interfere in the quality of life of frail elderly.

Difficulties in the use of medications by elderly people followed up in a cohort study in Southern Brazil

Objective:

This study aimed to assess the need for help by elderly people to take their medications, the difficulties related to this activity, the frequency of forgotten doses, and factors associated.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study conducted with a cohort of elderly people (60 years and over — “COMO VAI?” [How do you do?] study), where the need for help to properly take medication and the difficulties faced in using them were evaluated. The Poisson regression model was used to estimate the crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) of the outcomes and respective 95% confidence intervals according to the characteristics of the sample.

Results:

In total, 1,161 elderly people were followed up. The prevalence of participants who reported requiring help with medication was 15.5% (95%CI 13.5–17.8), and the oldest subjects, with lower educational levels, in worse economic situations, on four or more medications and in bad self-rated health were the ones who needed help the most. Continuous use of medication was reported by 83.0% (95%CI 80.7–85.1) of the sample and most participants (74.9%; 95%CI 72.0–77.5) never forgot to take their medications.

Conclusion:

The need for help to use medications was shown to be influenced by social and economic determinants. Studies assessing the difficulties in medication use by the elderly are important to support policies and practices to improve adherence to treatment and the rational use of medications.

Factors associated with functional disability in older adults with cancer treated at reference outpatient clinics in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

OBJECTIVE

To analyze factors associated with functional disability in older adults with cancer treated at reference outpatient clinics in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study of 463 older adults aged 60 years or older. The outcome variable was functional disability, evaluated by Lawton and Brody's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale. The independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, social support, and health aspects. We performed bivariate and multivariate analyses and calculated prevalence ratios (PR) using Poisson regression with robust variance.

RESULTS

The prevalence of IADL functional disability was 55.3%. The variables associated with this disability in the multivariate analysis were: not working (PR=1.36; 95% confidence interval - 95%CI 1.03-1.78); low (PR=1.49; 95%CI 1.10-2.03) and moderate (PR=1.30; 95%CI 1.04-1.64) perceived affectionate support; depressive symptoms (PR=1.31; 95%CI 1.10-1.56); malnutrition (PR=1.28; 95%CI 1.03-1.59); having two or more comorbidities (PR=1.30; 95%CI 1.03-1.64), and having a companion to health services (PR=1.39; 95%CI 1.05-1.83).

CONCLUSION

In addition to physical health aspects, comorbidities, and malnutrition, functional disability was associated with emotional, social support, and work issues, reinforcing the importance of comprehensive care and actions to maintain and recover functional capacity, promoting a better quality of life, the independence of older adults with cancer, and a reduced risk of adverse biopsychosocial outcomes.

Quedas, medo de cair e capacidade funcional

Objetivo: avaliar a capacidade funcional e o medo de cair em idosos cadastrados em uma unidade de saúde da família. Método: estudo descritivo e transversal, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado em janeiro de 2019, no domicílio de 157 idosos cadastrados em uma unidade de saúde da família do município de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil. Para a coleta foi utilizado um instrumento semiestruturado, composto de questões sociodemográficas, histórico de quedas, o índice de Barthel e a Escala Internacional de Eficácia em Quedas. A análise foi efetivada pela estatística descritiva e inferencial, utilizando-se o teste de correlação de Spearman. Resultados: houve correlação entre atividades que compõem a análise da capacidade funcional e o medo de cair, em que se observou significância estatística entre elas, verificando-se que quanto menor a capacidade funcional, maior será o medo de cair. Considerações Finais: concluiu-se que, frente ao declínio fisiológico, social e psicológico oriundos do envelhecimento humano, é importante o planejamento de intervenções que abordem o medo de cair em idosos, com vistas a preservar sua capacidade funcional.

Fatores associados à incapacidade funcional em idosos com câncer atendidos em ambulatórios de referência no estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil

RESUMO: Objetivo: Analisar os fatores associados à incapacidade funcional em idosos com câncer atendidos em ambulatórios de referência do estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil. Métodos: Estudo transversal, com 463 idosos de 60 anos ou mais. A variável desfecho foi a incapacidade funcional, avaliada por meio da Escala de Atividades Instrumentais de Vida Diária (AIVD) desenvolvida por Lawton e Brody. As variáveis independentes foram características sociodemográficas, estilo de vida, apoio social e condições de saúde. Foram realizadas análises bivariada e múltipla, calculando-se as razões de prevalência (RP), com o uso de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta. Resultados: A prevalência de incapacidade funcional para as AIVD foi de 55,3%. As variáveis que se associaram a essa incapacidade na análise múltipla foram: não trabalhar (RP=1,36, intervalo de confiança — IC95% 1,03–1,78); percepção de apoio afetivo baixo (RP=1,49; IC95% 1,10–2,03) e médio (RP=1,30; IC95% 1,04–1,64); sintomas depressivos (RP=1,31; IC95% 1,10–1,56); desnutrição (RP=1,28; IC95% 1,03–1,59); ter duas ou mais comorbidades (RP=1,30; IC95% 1,03–1,64) e ter acompanhante aos serviços de saúde (RP=1,39; IC95% 1,05–1,83). Conclusão: Além das condições de saúde física, comorbidade e desnutrição, as questões emocionais, de apoio social e trabalho associaram-se à incapacidade funcional, reforçando a importância de uma atenção integral e de ações de manutenção e recuperação da capacidade funcional, promovendo maior qualidade de vida, a independência do idoso com câncer e a redução do risco de desfechos adversos em âmbito biopsicossocial.

Using structural equation modeling in the understanding of functional disability in older adults

Objective:

to analyze functional disability and its associated factors among community-dwelling older adults.

Method:

a cross-sectional study, conducted with 1,635 older adults distributed in the following age groups: 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80 years old or more, living in a health macro-region of the state of Minas Gerais. Descriptive and trajectory analysis was carried out (p<0.05). The parameters were estimated by the Maximum Likelihood method.

Results:

the highest percentage was female, with a monthly income of 1 minimum wage and living with a companion. In the age groups from 60 to 69 and from 70 to 79 years old, older adults with a partner predominated; and, among those aged 80 years old or more, widowed individuals prevailed. In the three groups, functional disability occurred hierarchically. Lower schooling, frailty and depressive symptomatology were factors directly associated with functional disability in the advanced activities; frailty and sedentary behavior were directly associated with functional disability in the instrumental activities. In the older adults aged between 60 and 69 years old and from 70 to 79 years old, sedentary behavior was associated with greater dependence on the basic activities.

Conclusion:

the expanded understanding of the factors in the functional disability of the older adults, according to age group, helps the health professional in the development of preventive measures for this disease.

Difficulty in performing activities of daily living and the need for help in older adults: evidence on social distancing models from the ELSI-COVID-19 initiative

To analyze whether the older adults with difficulty or need of help to perform basic or instrumentals activities of daily living are more socially distanced in times of COVID-19. A total of 4,035 older adults participated in the telephone interviews from the second wave of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil). Difficulty, need and receiving help were classified into: (1) independents; (2) had difficulty without need for care; (3) had difficulty, needed and have received care from someone within their household; (4) had difficulty, needed and have received care from someone outside their household; and (5) had difficulty and needed care but did not receive it. Social distancing was categorized as follows: did not leave their houses in the last 7 days, left their houses for essential activities and went out for non-essential activities. Multinomial regression model adjusted for age, sex, schooling and great geographical region was performed. Older adults who had difficulty, needed and have received help from within their homes (odds ratio - OR = 2.34 95%CI: 1.25-4.39) or from outside their homes (OR = 3.94; 95%CI: 2.24-6.92) were more socially distanced. Age increased the odds of not going out (OR = 1.06; 95%CI: 1.03-1.09) while be men reduced it (OR = 0.48; 95%CI: 0.33-0.70). Living in the South of Brazil has increased the odds of the respondents going out for essential activities (OR = 1.77; 95%CI: 1.01-3.10). Older adults who had difficulty, needed and have received help from within or outside their homes did not leave their homes in the last 7 days. Even with social distancing, these older adults can not have their exposure to COVID-19 reduced, weakening the theory of selective social distancing.

Health Status and Functional Abilities of Elderly Males Visiting Primary Health-care Centers in Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia

Background

There is an aging population all over the world, and Saudi Arabia is no exception to it. An aging population poses several challenges to the health-care sector.

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the health status and functional abilities of elderly people visiting primary health-care centers in Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This cross-sectional study involved elderly male Saudi nationals aged 60 years and above. Self-rated health status and body pain, functional status, geriatric review of systems and other relevant data were collected using the Geriatric Health Questionnaire of University of Iowa Health Care. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21.

Results

The study results showed that the overall health of the elderly was either good (32.9%) or very good (32.3%), while 14.2% rated their health as excellent. Only two participants rated their health as poor. The majority of the participants (71.9%) had no functional impairment in basic activities of daily living (BADL), while 35.7% had mild impairment in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Only two participants were found to have total impairment in IADL. The most common limitation among BADL was walking (21.1%) and among IADL was doing the housework. The notable factors associated with functional impairment in BADL and IADL were old age (≥80 years), poor eyesight, memory impairment, having trouble with control of bladder, falls twice or more, taking more than two medications, being sexually inactive, poor self-rated general health and severe self-rated body pain (all P<0.05) among others.

Conclusion

The majority of the elderly were able to perform BADL independently and to a lesser extent IADL; the overall self-rated general health was found to be good. Further research in the field of geriatrics is warranted to plan better, and design public health policies and provide efficient care to elderly patients.

Prevalência de diagnóstico e tipos de câncer em idosos: dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde 2013

Resumo Objetivo: Estimar a prevalência de diagnóstico médico de câncer em idosos, descrever os tipos de câncer, as limitações em atividades cotidianas, autopercepção da saúde e a relação com doenças/condições crônicas. Métodos: Estudo transversal de base populacional com dados de idosos (n=11.177) que participaram da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS/2013). Estimaram-se as prevalências e os respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95%. Resultados: A média de idade foi de 69,8 anos (IC95%:69,5-70,1) e 56,4% (IC95%:54,8-58,0) eram mulheres. O diagnóstico de câncer foi referido por 5,6% (IC95%:5,0-6,4) dos idosos, sendo maior entre homens (7,1%) que em mulheres (4,7%; p<0,001). Os três principais tipos de câncer foram, nos homens: próstata (52,4%;IC95%:43,5-61,2), pele (13,9%;IC95%:9,1-20,6) e intestino (10,6%;IC95%:4,9-21,5); nas mulheres: mama (46,9%;IC95%:40,6-53,3), pele (17,3%;IC95%:14,2-20,8) e intestino (9,8%;IC95%:6,5-14,5). Cerca de 67% foram diagnosticados após os 60 anos, 33,0% referiram limitação decorrente da doença e 16,8% (IC95%:12,4-22,4) autoavaliaram sua saúde como ruim/muito ruim. A presença de limitação foi cerca de 31% maior naqueles com diagnóstico mais recente e a autopercepção da saúde foi pior naqueles com diagnóstico inferior a 5 anos. Nos idosos com câncer, observaram-se maiores prevalências de hipertensão arterial, doenças do coração, depressão e doenças respiratórias crônicas (p<0,05). Conclusão: Os achados mostram a prevalência de câncer nos idosos brasileiros, com diferenças entre os sexos, bem como a distribuição dos principais tipos e a idade do primeiro diagnóstico. Destaca-se a importância da hipertensão arterial, doenças do coração, depressão e doenças respiratórias, além de outras condições de vida e saúde dos idosos no cuidado oncogeriátrico.

Caloric Adequacy in the First Week of Mechanically Ventilated Patients has No Impact on Long-term Daily Life Activities

Aim and objective

The aim and objective of this study is to test the effect of an optimized caloric supply in the first week of intensive care unit (ICU) stay in mechanically ventilated patients on the ability to perform their activities of daily living (ADL) in the long-term.

Materials and methods

A prospective observational study comparing patients who achieved an adequate caloric target (≥80%) vs those whose target was inadequate (<80%). The primary outcome under study is the instrumental ADL (IADL) scale after 6 months of discharge.

Results

Ninety-two patients were evaluated in the ICU and 50 were alive at 6 months. Follow-up was lost for 3 patients and 47 patients were evaluated at ICU and after 6 months. Thirty-four patients reached the energetic target and 13 did not reach it. There was no significant variation in IADL.

Conclusion

The energy adequacy in the first week of hospitalization was achieved by most survivors; however, this conduct does not seem to have influenced the ability to perform ADL after 6 months of discharge.

How to cite this article

Dariano AP, Couto CFL, Rubin BA, Viana MV, Friedman G. Caloric Adequacy in the First Week of Mechanically Ventilated Patients has No Impact on Long-term Daily Life Activities. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(12):1206–1212.

Desigualdades de renda e capacidade funcional de idosos em município do Sudeste brasileiro

RESUMO: Objetivo: Estimar a magnitude das desigualdades de renda nas prevalências de dependência funcional em atividades básicas e instrumentais da vida diária (ABVDs e AIVDs, respectivamente) e no abandono de atividades avançadas (AAVDs). Métodos: Estudo transversal, de base populacional, desenvolvido com dados de amostra de 986 idosos de inquérito de saúde realizado no município de Campinas, São Paulo, em 2014/15. Foram estimadas as prevalências de dependência funcional em ABVDs e AIVDs e de abandono das AAVDs segundo a renda familiar mensal per capita, bem como desenvolvidas análises de regressão múltipla de Poisson para estimar razões de prevalência (RPs) ajustadas por sexo e idade. Resultados: Não houve associação significativa entre renda e dependência funcional em ABVDs. Das sete AIVDs analisadas, cinco apresentaram maior prevalência de dependência no estrato de menor renda, com destaque para o uso de telefone (RP = 3,50), o controle do uso de remédios (RP = 2,40) e o uso de transporte (RP = 2,35). O abandono de AAVDs foi maior entre os idosos de menor renda em todas as atividades analisadas, com maiores desigualdades observadas no contato por carta, telefone e e-mail (RP = 3,76), no uso de internet (RP = 3,34), em dirigir veículos (RP = 2,85) e na visita a familiares (RP = 2,77). Conclusão: As amplas desigualdades detectadas entre estratos de renda quanto à capacidade funcional nas AIVDs e no abandono das AAVDs ressaltam a importância da plena implementação e manutenção de políticas e programas voltados à proteção social de idosos, focando, em especial, os segmentos socialmente mais vulneráveis, na perspectiva de se atingir um patamar populacional mais equânime de um envelhecimento ativo, participativo e independente.

Prevalência de sofrimento psíquico em pessoas idosas: um estudo de base comunitária

Resumo Objetivos Verificar a prevalência do sofrimento psíquico em uma população de idosos da comunidade e analisar a sua correlação com idade, anos de escolaridade, nível socioeconômico, sexo, morbidade referida, autopercepção de saúde, autopercepção visual, autopercepção auditiva e síndromes geriátricas (fragilidade, medo de cair, capacidade funcional e quedas). Método Estudo transversal com 315 idosos, não institucionalizados, residentes em Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brasil, em 2015. Os dados foram coletados através de inquérito domiciliar e o sofrimento psíquico pode ser observado naquela população idosa com a aplicação do Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4). Para verificar a associação da variável desfecho com as variáveis explicativas, usou-se teste qui-quadrado (χ²) de Pearson. O nível de significância adotado no estudo foi de 5%. Resultados A prevalência de sofrimento psíquico entre os idosos foi de 41,8% (IC95% 36,5–47,4%). Verificou-se associação entre o PHQ-4 e sexo (ρ=0,001), morbidade referida (ρ=0,020), autopercepção de saúde (ρ<0,001), autopercepção visual (ρ=0,001), autopercepção auditiva (ρ=0,034), capacidade funcional (ρ=0,003) e fragilidade (ρ=0,000) Conclusões o sofrimento psíquico é uma condição frequente entre idosos. O conhecimento dos fatores associados a esse evento pode contribuir para um modelo de cuidado em saúde que estimule o envelhecimento ativo e saudável.

Consequences of chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age - a scoping review

Background

The phenomenon of the increasing number of ageing people in the world is arguably the most significant economic, health and social challenge that we face today. Additionally, one of the major epidemiologic trends of current times is the increase in chronic and degenerative diseases. This paper tries to deliver a more up to date overview of chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age and provide a more detailed outlook on the research that has gone into this field.

Methods

First, challenges for seniors, including chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age, are specified. Second, a review of seniors’ needs and concerns is performed. Finally, solutions that can improve seniors’ quality of life are discussed. Publications obtained from the following databases are used in this scoping review: Web of Science, PubMed, and Science Direct. Four independent reviewers screened the identified records and selected relevant publications published from 2010 to 2017. A total of 1916 publications were selected. In all, 52 papers were selected based on abstract content. For further processing, 21 full papers were screened.”

Results

The results indicate disabilities as a major problem associated with seniors’ activities of daily living dependence. We founded seven categories of different conditions - psychological problems, difficulties in mobility, poor cognitive function, falls and incidents, wounds and injuries, undernutrition, and communication problems. In order to minimize ageing consequences, some areas require more attention, such as education and training; technological tools; government support and welfare systems; early diagnosis of undernutrition, cognitive impairment, and other diseases; communication solutions; mobility solutions; and social contributions.

Conclusions

This scoping review supports the view on chronic diseases in old age as a complex issue. To prevent the consequences of chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age related problems demands multicomponent interventions. Early recognition of problems leading to disability and activities of daily living (ADL) dependence should be one of essential components of such interventions.