Níveis de BDNF e leucócitos como marcadores de fragilidade em idosos: associação com fatores adversos à saúde, controlado pelo nível de atividade física.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with frailty in the elderly in the city of Alcobaça, State of Bahia. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological study of 241 individuals with a mean age of 70.25 years (SD = 8.25) with a range of 60 and 97 years, enrolled in the Health Family (ESF) in the urban agglomeration of Alcobaça, Bahia, Brazil. Fragility was defined by the concomitant presence of serum BDNF ≤ P 25 (Percentile 25) and the Leukocyte count below 4,000 mm³ or greater than 9,290 mm³. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean) and inferential statistics using Poisson regression, p≤0.05. The prevalence of frailty was 8.7% and this condition was more prevalent in the elderly hospitalized in the last three months and among those with disabilities in performing the basic activities of daily living, even when controlled by age, gender and level of physical activity. The results found in this study indicate that the elderly with a recent hospitalization and those with functional disability in the ABVD should receive more assistance and follow-up in order to avoid aggravation in adverse health factors and the evolution from the preliminary stages to advanced fragility.