title: Factors associated with functional loss in the elderly living in the city of Maceió, Northeastern Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors associated with functional loss in older adults living in the urban area.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out with a population-based sample of 319 elderly individuals from the municipality of Maceió (Northeastern Brazil), in 2009. To obtain the functional impairment data the Brazilian Older Americans Resources and Services Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire was used. A descriptive analysis, the chi-square test and a regression analysis for crude prevalence ratio were used, and the significance level that was adopted was p <0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of participants were females (65.8%) and the mean age was 72 years (SD = 8.83). The prevalence of moderate/severe impairment was 45.5%, and the associated factors were being 75 years old or older, having up to four years of schooling, reporting two or more chronic diseases and being single.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The characteristics of the elderly with functional impairment reflect inequalities and potential impacts of this population segment on the health services.
authors: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil. mdesterro@bol.com.br
authors: Maria do Desterro da
authors: Mdo D
authors: Costa e Silva
authors: Helen Arruda
authors: HA
authors: Guimarães
authors: Euclides Maurício
authors: EM
authors: Trindade Filho
authors: Solange
authors: S
authors: Andreoni
authors: Luiz Roberto
authors: LR
authors: Ramos
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data