title: Cluster analysis to identify elderly people's profiles: a healthcare strategy based on frailty characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The new social panorama resulting from aging of the Brazilian population is leading to significant transformations within healthcare. Through the cluster analysis strategy, it was sought to describe the specific care demands of the elderly population, using frailty components.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study based on reviewing medical records, conducted in the geriatric outpatient clinic, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight elderly users of this clinic were evaluated using cluster analysis and instruments for assessing their overall geriatric status and frailty characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The variables that most strongly influenced the formation of clusters were age, functional capacities, cognitive capacity, presence of comorbidities and number of medications used. Three main groups of elderly people could be identified: one with good cognitive and functional performance but with high prevalence of comorbidities (mean age 77.9 years, cognitive impairment in 28.6% and mean of 7.4 comorbidities); a second with more advanced age, greater cognitive impairment and greater dependence (mean age 88.5 years old, cognitive impairment in 84.6% and mean of 7.1 comorbidities); and a third younger group with poor cognitive performance and greater number of comorbidities but functionally independent (mean age 78.5 years old, cognitive impairment in 89.6% and mean of 7.4 comorbidities).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data characterize the profile of this population and can be used as the basis for developing efficient strategies aimed at diminishing functional dependence, poor self-rated health and impaired quality of life.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Fattori
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Ivan Mazivieiro
authors: IM
authors: Oliveira
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Rosalia Matera de Angelis
authors: RM
authors: Alves
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Maria Elena
authors: ME
authors: Guariento
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D019338:Polypharmacy; D011788:Quality of Life