[Prevalence and risk factors of suspicion abuse in elder population].
OBJECTIVE
We determined the prevalence and associated risk factors in the suspicion of elder abuse in the old population.


METHODS
We included a total of 209 patients > or = 72 years of age without cognitive deterioration (score in test of Pfeiffer (3/4) 4 points). The questionnaire of suspicion of elder abuse used was one recommended by the Canadian Task Force and the American Medical Association; it consists of 9 questions and the presence of a positive answer is considered as indicative of suspicion of abuse.


RESULTS
The prevalence of suspicion of elder abuse was 52.6% (at least one positive answer to the questionnaire). 8.6% affirmatively responded to 2 questions and 2% to 3. Female gender, widowhood, deficiency of studies, living alone or in institutions and having exerted a remunerated work were the associated variables in the bivariant analysis with regard to the suspicion of abuse. In the model of logistic regression, there was a significant association with the civil status and the coexistence of the familiar nucleus, with a greater risk of elder abuse in unmarried and/or widowers (p < 0.001) and in those living alone (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high prevalence of suspicion of elder abuse in the old population.
Risco Romero
Carmen
C
Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, Centro de Salud Universitario La Paz, Servicio Extremeño de Salud, Badajoz, Spain.
Paniagua Vicioso
María del Carmen
Mdel C
Jiménez Mendoza
Gloria
G
Poblador Curtó
María Dolores
MD
Molina Martínez
Luis
L
Buitrago
Francisco
F
D000368:Aged; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data