Prevalência de fatores associados a incapacidade funcional em idosos vinculados a Estratégia da Saúde da Família no município de Uberaba, MG.

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of functional disability as well as socio-demographic variables, self-reported health, mental health, fragility and physical activity associated with functional disability. Moreover, it aimed to estimate the minimum levels of total physical activity for the absence of functional disability. It was an analytical, cross-sectional observational study with the use of exploratory methods (surveys) and physical performance tests. The study population comprised 10,683 persons of both sexes, aged ≥ 60 years living in the urban area of Uberaba, state of Minas Gerais. The stratified random sample consisted of 624 subjects enrolled in one of 35 Family Health Teams (FHT) in the city. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered in individual interviews. We collected information related to the socio-demographic status as well as to self-reported health, mental health, fragility and physical activity. The level of habitual physical activity in domestic areas, leisure, work and transport was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), full version adapted to the elderly. Functional disability in basic activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were evaluated respectively by the Katz and the Lawton & Brody indexes. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics procedures (frequency, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Student´s t-test, chi-square test, ROC curve, and Poisson logistic regression models), p ≤ 0.05. The prevalence of disability was 17.6% in ADL and 46.3% in IADL. The variables associated with disability in ADLs were aging, falls, alcohol consumption, depressive symptoms and fragility. With regard to IADL, the variables were aging, illiteracy, multigenerational family arrangement, hospitalization and fragility syndrome. Accumulated regular, moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity performed on a regular basis in different contexts during 290 minutes per week for women, and 410 minutes per week for men, were the minimum levels for predicting absence of functional disability in IADL. The research findings not only provide information which contributes to the design of more effective interventional strategies aimed at maintaining the elderly functional health, but also reinforce the role of the primary care professionals in health-promoting activities.