Abstract
Analyze the coefficient, associated factors, and causes of mortality in community-dwelling elderly. Longitudinal and analytical study. Data collection, at baseline, was performed in the elderly's home. The first wave occurred after 42 months. Complementary data collection identified the cause of death. Variables analyzed: demographic, social, economic, and clinical. Logistic regression was used for data analysis. The coefficient of mortality was 7.9%. The variables associated with mortality were longevity, inability to read, absence of religious practice, stroke, consultation, and hospitalization in the last 12 months. The main groups of primary causes of death were ill-defined and unspecified causes of mortality, respiratory system diseases, and neoplasms. The coefficient of mortality in community-dwelling elderly was lower than national and international studies investigated.
Highlights
Aging is a worldwide phenomenon observed both in developed and developing countries
There was a predominance of females (64.8%), age group up to 79 years old (84.5%), with a mean of 73.9 years old (SD±7.9), non-white skin color (68.6%), who had a partner (51.4%) and up to 4 years of education (76.2%)
Among the 685 community-dwelling older adults evaluated at baseline, 92 refused to participate in the first wave of the study, 78 moved and could not be located, 67 were not found at home after three visits, and 54 died
Summary
Aging is a worldwide phenomenon observed both in developed and developing countries. Due to Brazil›s accelerated demographic transition in the last few years, we perceive the population›s growing aging. The combination of demographic and epidemiological transitions is associated with the increase in the proportional mortality rate of the elderly in the general population and caused significant changes in the distribution of the leading causes of death among the elderly[4]. It is noteworthy that aging provides a more significant burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and disabilities and changes in the profile of illness and mortality of the population[5]. In the context of elderly health, most studies are developed in hospitals or long-stay institutions[6,7,8,9,10], where the characteristics of the population tend to be distinct and with profiles of greater frailty. The results can direct health services to develop better actions for the promotion and protection of this population’s health[11,12]
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