Frailty Assessment and its Association with Sociodemographic and Health Characteristics in Community Elderly

Abstract

Background: Frailty assessment in the elderly and its relationship to sociodemographic and health characteristics. Method: Quantitative study, descriptive and cross-sectional study, conducted between April to July 2014, at two Family Health Units in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. The sample consisted of 203 elderly. The data collection procedure occurred through a structured interview, which used two instruments. Results: The average age of the participants was 68.59 years; among them, 83 (40.89%) did not show weakness, 45 (22.17%) were apparently vulnerable and 75 (36.94%) were frail. The weakness associated with low education, widowhood, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, respiratory disease, urinary tract infection, depression, six classes of drugs (antidiabetic, antidepressant, anxiolytic, and antacid against osteoporosis) and fall episode. Conclusions: We conclude that assessment of frailty is important to detect the risk and/or embrittlement process already installed in the elderly.