Cross-sectional study on the association between frailty and violence against community-dwelling elderly people in Brazil.

Mariane Santos Belisário,Pollyana Cristina Dos Santos Ferreira,Maycon Sousa Pegorari,Fabrício Anibal Corradini,Mariana Mapelli De Paiva,Flavia Aparecida Dias,Darlene Mara Dos Santos Tavares

doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2017.0203290817

Abstract

The physical, emotional and cognitive limitations that may be present in the aging process, coupled with family unpreparedness, may lead to greater dependence among the elderly. This favors development of frailty syndrome and greater levels of violence against the elderly. The objective here was to analyze the association between violence against the elderly and frailty; and the geographic distribution of violence against the elderly according to the presence of frailty syndrome. Cross-sectional study on 705 community-dwelling elderly people in Uberaba (MG), Brazil. The Fried frailty phenotype and conflict tactics scale were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test and a logistic regression model. The intensity of the events and the relationship between clusters of violence and frailty status were assessed by means of kernel estimation. The adjusted analysis indicated that pre-frailty and frailty were associated with physical and verbal aggression (odds ratio, OR = 1.51; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.04-2.19; OR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.29-3.47), frailty was associated with physical aggression (OR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.25-4.94) and pre-frailty and frailty were associated with verbal aggression (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.03-2.15; OR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.31-3.52), respectively. Regardless of frailty status and its relationship with violence, clusters of occurrences were larger in similar regions in the southeastern part of the municipality; but superimposition of overlays relating to aggression showed that for frail individuals the clusters were smaller than for non-frail and pre-frail individuals. The condition of frailty was associated with greater chances of violence against the elderly.

Highlights

Amid the expansion of longevity, propitiated through advances in medicine and improvements in living standards, elderly people have been experiencing new situations that are considered adverse, such as increasing numbers of cases of violence against them.[1]
Superimposition of overlays relating to verbal aggression (Figure 2B) and physical aggression (Figure 2C) showed that the region with pre-frail elderly people suffering from these problems was the southeastern region
Superimposition of overlays relating to verbal aggression (Figure 3B) and physical aggression (Figure 3C) showed that the southeastern region presented the largest concentration of frail elderly people

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Amid the expansion of longevity, propitiated through advances in medicine and improvements in living standards, elderly people have been experiencing new situations that are considered adverse, such as increasing numbers of cases of violence against them.[1]. Another review of the literature[8] identified the prevalence of frailty syndrome among the elderly, finding a range from 6.9% to 39.1% This range of results was ascribed to differences between countries and between the types of places evaluated (in the community or in hospitals, healthcare units or long-stay institutions), along with the instruments used.[8]. Considering these data, it is important to identify cases of risk of violence against the elderly that are related to the presence of frailty syndrome. These data can contribute towards better organization of care services, through planning of healthcare actions and decision-making that are directed towards the target public.[9]

OBJECTIVE

METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION