Disability and multimorbidity in women older than 50 years: a population-based household survey.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of disability and associated factors in Brazilian women older than 50 years.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study (in the form of a population survey) of 622 women older than 50 years and residing in Campinas, Brazil. Disability was assessed through a questionnaire with seven items and defined as "being completely unable to perform any of them." Independent variables included self-perception of health, sociodemographic data, health-related habits, and morbidities. Statistical analysis was carried out by χ(2) test and Poisson regression.


RESULTS
The mean age of women was 64.1 years, and the prevalence of disability was 43.4%. Age (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), fear of falling (PR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.17-2.16), higher body mass index (PR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05), personal history of myocardial infarction (PR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.06-1.76), smoking more than 15 cigarettes per day (PR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.04-1.72), hospitalization in the past year (PR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.03-1.62), multimorbidity (PR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.02-2.02), and use of any medication prescribed by a doctor (PR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.02-2.41) were associated with a higher prevalence of disability. Self-perception of health as good/very good (PR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52-0.86), use of alternative medications (PR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.33-0.90), and more years of schooling (PR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.45-0.93) were associated with a lower prevalence of disability.


CONCLUSIONS
The results improve our understanding of the factors associated with disability in Brazilian women and may help identify those who need multidisciplinary support to reduce effects on quality of life.
From the Department of Gynecology, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Luiza Borges
LB
Aguiar
Luiz Francisco
LF
Baccaro
Vanessa
V
de Souza Santos Machado
Aarão Mendes
AM
Pinto-Neto
Lúcia
L
Costa-Paiva
D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D017698:Postmenopause; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology