title: Identifying Frailty Levels and Associated Factors in a Population Living in the Context of Poverty and Social Vulnerability.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate a vulnerable population living in the context of poverty in a Brazilian municipality, in order to identify the factors that are associated with frailty syndrome in elderly people. From the total population living in the area, a random sample of 363 community-dwelling people, 60 years and older, age and gender-stratified, was selected to participate in the research. After losses, a sample of 304 older adults was classified as non-frail, pre-frail and frail. According to the Fried frailty criteria, the prevalence was 12.2% for non-frail individuals, 60.5% pre-frail and 27.3% frail. The main factors associated with frailty in the studied sample were low level of physical activity (OR: 5.2, 95%CI: 2.5-11.0), the occurrence of two or more falls within 12 months (OR: 3.1, 95%CI: 1.4-7.1), mobility deficits (OR: 3.0, 95%CI: 1.5-5.8), and depressive symptoms (OR: 1.9, 95%CI: 1.1-3.7). This study identified the most important factors that must be evaluated to identify frailty syndrome in a socially vulnerable population in the context of poverty. The data should help to encourage effective strategies concerning public health policies for this population.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Marcia R. Cominetti, Federal University of São Carlos, Department of Gerontology, Rod. Washington Luis, Km 235, Monjolinho, São Carlos, SP, Brazil, CEP 13565-905. Phone: +55 16 3306 6663 Fax: +55 16 3351 9628. E-mail: mcominetti@ufscar.br.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zazzetta
authors.forename: G A O
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: A C M
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gratão
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Vasilceac
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gramani-Say
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ponti
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: S C I
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pavarini
authors.forename: A L C
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: C M C
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cominetti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000073496:Frailty / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Aging; cognition; elderly; frailty; social vulnerability