One-year follow-up of non-institutionalized dependent older adults: mortality, hospitalization, and mobility.
Non-institutionalized dependent older adults present high morbidity and mortality, demand care from their families, and consume primary health care resources. To expand knowledge about this group, we conducted a population-based one-year prospective cohort study of 130 non-institutionalized dependent older persons (age 60 and older), stratified according to baseline mobility: independent walking (group A), use of walking aids (group B), and bedridden or confined to a wheelchair (group C). The outcomes analysed were death, hospitalization, and mobility disability. Total mortality was 8.5 per cent (p = .05). Overall hospitalization rate was 34.6 per cent; the main causes were stroke and pneumonia. After one year, there was a decline in the proportion of subjects classified as independent walking (57% vs. 43%; p = .03). We conclude that there was a high rate of mortality and hospitalization in this group of dependent older people, and an increase in disability after a one-year follow-up.
Universidade Estadual de Londrina - Brazil, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. marcoscabrera@uol.com.br
Marcos Aparecido
MA
Sarria Cabrera
Mara Solange
MS
Gomes Dellaroza
Celita Salmaso
CS
Trelha
Celso Henrique
CH
Cecilio
Sara Ellias de
SE
Souza
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009026:Mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016138:Walking