Fadiga em idosos: conceitos, instrumentos de avaliação e fatores associados

Abstract

Objective: To investigate factors associated with self-reported fatigue in older people attending Primary Health Care. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out with 201 older adults evaluated in three matrix health units drawn in Uberaba, Minas Gerais. Self-reported fatigue was indicated by two questions extracted from the CES-D about the frequency of exertion and need of interruption of daily activities. Physical and mental health conditions, environmental barriers and sociodemographic aspects were assessed. Descriptive analyses, comparisons of means (t test) and proportions (chi-square) were performed, in addition to multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The sample was characterized by women (77.1%), mean age 68.13 years and 5.62 years of education on average. The prevalence of fatigue was 45.3%. Depressive symptoms, falls and safety-related environmental barriers were related to a higher probability of self-reporting fatigue. Conclusion: Self-reported fatigue is a prevalent condition in the older population attending primary health care and is associated to physical and mental health conditions and the environment, aspects requiring a comprehensive approach based on biopsychosocial models.