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[Determinant factors of functional status among the elderly]
Tereza Etsuko da Costa Rosa1, Maria Helena D'Aquino Benício, Maria do Rosário Dias de Oliveira Latorre
1Instituto de Saúde, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. tererosa@isaude.sp.gov.br
Objective:
To investigate the impact of health-related demographic and socioeconomic factors, as well as the impact of factors associated to social activity and the subjective health evaluation on the functional status of elderly people.
Methods:
A cross-sectional multicentric study was conducted in a representative population sample in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in 1989. Functional status was evaluated using a scale of activities of personal and instrumental daily living. It was studied as a dichotomous variable: absence of dependency - disability/difficulty in none of the activities in contrast with moderate/severe dependency - disability/difficulty in 4 or more activities. Multiple regression analysis was applied to hierarchically clustered factors.
Results:
Those with the following features were more associated to moderate/severe dependency: illiterate, retired, pensioner, house keeper, living in a rented home, age over 65 years, multigenerational family composition, hospitalization in the last 6 months, mental health screening case, no visiting friends, and having a pessimistic perception of his/her own health when compared to their peers.
Conclusions:
The identified features associated to moderate/severe dependency suggest a complex net of causes for the declining functional status. However, one can assume that preventive measures directed to specific factors can benefit these population by improving their well-being.