Abstract
to assess factors associated with vulnerability and fragility in the elderly. crosssectional study with 384 elderly people in Fortaleza, Ceará. The Vulnerable Elders Survey and Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index - 20 were used. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used for associations. In the analysis of the combined influence of risk factors, the stepwise logistic regression and multinomial regression methods were adopted. 251 (65.4%) non-vulnerable and 133 (34.6%) vulnerable elders. From the vulnerable elders analyzed, 42 (30.9%) are at high risk for frailty. Factors associated with vulnerability: age, gender, presence of comorbidities, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis and use of polypharmacy. There is a 30% increase in the chance of vulnerability for each additional drug. Physical activity reduces the chance of vulnerability by 60%. Factors associated with frailty: educational level; self-perception of health; comorbidities; polypharmacy. it is important to pay attention to the presence of arterial hypertension, osteoporosis, polypharmacy, and encourage the practice of physical activity.
Highlights
IntroductionPopulation or sample; inclusion and exclusion criteria
Population or sample; inclusion and exclusion criteriaAging leads to the development of vulnerability and fragility
The prevalence of vulnerable elderly people found in this study is similar to that found in international studies[16,17]
Summary
Population or sample; inclusion and exclusion criteria. Aging leads to the development of vulnerability and fragility. Vulnerability derives from the Latin vulnerare, which means “the possibility of being hurt”; it has a biological, socioeconomic, and psychosocial nature. On the other hand, is characterized as a multifactorial syndrome, which involves dysregulation of the neuroendocrine system and immune system dysfunction, resulting in weight loss, muscle weakness, low resistance, decreased mobility speed and a reduced level of physical activity[1,2]. Vulnerability can induce frailty in the elderly. It is understood that every frail elderly person is vulnerable. There are elderly people in a vulnerable situation who are not frail. It is estimated that 10% to 25% of the population over 65 years of age is in a fragile situation; and, for people aged 85 or over, 45%(3-4)
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