[Factors associated with functional incapacity among the elderly in Guatambu, Santa Catarina State, Brazil].
The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of functional incapacity and associated factors. A cross-sectional population-based study included 352 elderly subjects (> or =60 years) in a small Brazilian town. Community-based health workers conducted structured interviews. Functional incapacity was measured by the Barthel index. Data analysis used Poisson regression to estimate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and the respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Prevalence of any kind of functional incapacity (mild, moderate, severe, or total) was 30.5% (95%CI: 25.6-35.2). Functional incapacity was higher (p < 0.05) in illiterates compared to those with > 5 years of schooling (PR = 2.21; 95%CI: 1.02-4.79); in people with low versus high quality of life (PR = 1.83; 95%CI: 1.13-2.97); in those with poor versus good self-rated health (PR = 1.73; 95%CI: 1.11-2.69); and in retired individuals compared to those working regularly (PR = 2.12; 95%CI: 1.19-3.78). Our results suggest that functional capacity involves interaction among multidimensional factors including self-reported health, independent daily life, and psychosocial and socioeconomic factors.
Santos
Kelly Antunes dos
KA
Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Avenida Unisinos 950, São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil.
Koszuoski
Ricardo
R
Dias-da-Costa
Juvenal Soares
JS
Pattussi
Marcos Pascoal
MP
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors