Síndrome da fragilidade e fatores associados em idosos institucionalizados

Abstract

The Aging is part of human life and although biology and medicine establish criteria for the definition of stages, these changes are rooted in the life history of each individual, their experiences and morbidities. As a result of the aging process, we can identify, among the geriatric syndromes, the fragility syndrome, which involves biopsychosocial factors and can be perceived through unintentional weight loss, decreased muscle mass and immune dysfunction, causing considerable losses in the quality of life of the elderly. The present study was a research project of the Graduate Program in Human Aging of the University of Passo Fundo (UPF), sub-project of the study entitled "Aging and longevity patterns: biological, educational and psychosocial aspects of institutionalized elderly". The same was approved by the Committee for Ethics and Research in Human Beings of the University of Passo Fundo under opinion number 2.097.278 and financed by Capes, edict ProcaD Nº 71/2013. This was a cross-sectional, population-based study in long-term care institutions for the elderly, distributed in municipalities located in the interior of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, aiming to assess the prevalence of fragility syndrome and associated factors in institutionalized elderly. Participants in the study were individuals aged 60 years or older, of both genders, residing in long-term institutions for private non-profit or private elderly philanthropic purposes, with the possibility of verbalizing and performing all the proposed tests. As exclusion criteria, individuals under 60 years of age, individuals who refused to participate in the study at least three times, individuals unable to ambulate, verbalize or perform all the proposed tests (restricted to the bed or wheelchair), individuals who were hospitalized on the day of the meeting with the research team, or with acute conditions or neurodegenerative diseases. This study was necessary to identify the prevalence of fragility syndrome and to be able to conduct actions directed to the age group in focus, as well as to prevent the resulting complications.