[Functional limitation and survival of community dwelling elderly].
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to analyze the functional limitation as risk factor of death of elderly dwelling in a community and its relationship with socio-demographic, physical health and neuropsychiatric related factors.


METHODS
A prospective study was carried out in the city of Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. A total of 310 randomly selected elderly formed the baseline (63.5% women, 73.7+/-9.03 years). The Katz Index was used to evaluate the functional capacity for basic activities of daily living. The follow-up period was of 53 months. The statistical methods used were bivariate analysis (Pearson's chi-square), survival analysis by the Kaplan-Meyer method, followed by Cox regression in multivariate analysis, with the respective hazards ratios (HR).


RESULTS
A total of 60 elderly (20.5%) died during the study follow-up; the main cause of death was cardiovascular disease. The mean survival time was of about 24.8 months, and the main risk factors identified at Cox regression were cognitive deficit (HR= 4.30) and stroke (HR= 3.49) besides the dependence for the basic activities of daily living (HR = 3.17).


CONCLUSIONS
The functional limitation was an independent risk factor for death.
Maciel
Alvaro Campos Cavalcanti
AC
Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN. alvarohuab@hotmail.com
Guerra
Ricardo Oliveira
RO
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D009026:Mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014797:Vital Capacity