Condición física, clínica y fragilidad de adultos mayores en Cali, Colombia

Abstract

IntroductionWorldwide, the aging of the population has been a topic of interest to investigate, due to the burden of morbidity and mortality and the health costs it causes. Thus, it is relevant to investigate those aspects that make older adults more vulnerable. ObjectiveTo compare the physical and clinical condition according to frailty in older adults from Cali, Colombia. Materials and methodsCross-sectional descriptive study in older adults from the city of Cali, Colombia. The study had institutional ethical endorsement and all the older adults agreed to participate by signing the informed consent. The short physical performance battery (SPPB) was used, and sociodemographic, physical and clinical variables and by level of frailty were compared in vigorous, pre-frail and frail. ResultsFour hundred and seventy older adults with an average age of 71.15±7.50 years and mostly female were enrolled. There were statistically significant differences, P≤0.05 in age, socioeconomic status, commune, disease, body mass index, physical activity, physical performance, and risk of falls. The fragility group presented greater compromise. ConclusionThe group of older adults classified as frail had a lower physical and clinical condition compared to the pre-frail and vigorous groups.