Fatores associados à fragilidade em idosos ambulatoriais

Abstract

Frailty is highly prevalent concern among older adults living independently in communities, often resulting in adverse outcomes such as frequent hospitalizations and dependency. Yet, few studies have analyzed this syndrome in outpatient settings, where older individuals often contend with a myriad of complex health conditions that may either coexist with or predispose them frailty. Consequently, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of frailty and associated factors among older adults registered in outpatient services catering to the older adult’s population in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Conducted as a cross sectional investigation, this study targeted individuals aged 60 years and above, spanning from November 2020 and September 2022. The study subjects underwent comprehensive interview to gather data on sociodemographic factors, lifestyle habits, health profile, functional capacity, cognition assessment, and depressive symptoms. Frailty was assessed by the Fried phenotype criteria. Data analysis using descriptive statistics, with inferential analyses conducted for each criterion of frailty. A significance level of p < 0.05 was applied for statistical interpretation. The study encompassed a total of 335 participants, with a average age of 74.5 years (SD = 8.5), and notably, 78.8% were women. Among the sample, 151 participants (45.1%) were classified as robusts, 145 (43.3%) as pre-frail, and 39 (11.6%) as frail. The most prevalent frailty criterion observed was a low level of physical activity (32.2%), followed by slow walking speed (25.1%). The logistic regression analysis revealed several factors significantly associated with pre-frailty and frailty, including retirement status, marital status (being unmarried), lower educational level, poor functional performance, and symptoms of depression. While not included in the diagnostic models, factors such as body mass index, age, and gender exhibited associations with specific frailty phenotype criteria, underscoring their relevance in the frailty context. Therefore, these results underscore the association between frailty and adverse health outcomes such as reduced functionality and depressive symptoms, thereby supporting for the development of health policies and interventions targeting modifiable lifestyle factors.