Rheumatic diseases and associated factors in older adults: a Brazilian population-based study

Mirelle Oliveira Saes,Elaine Thumé,Karla Pereira Machado,Luiz Augusto Facchini

doi:10.7322/abcshs.2020049.1498

Abstract

Introduction: Rheumatic diseases have high occurrence in older adults, which may lead to a reduction in independence and quality of life. Objective: To calculate prevalence and to identify factors associated with rheumatic diseases in older adults of the urban area of a municipality in Southern Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional population-based study, conducted in 2008 in the city of Bagé-RS, Brazil with older adults aged 60 years or over. The outcome was defined from the question "Has any doctor told you that you have rheumatism, arthritis or arthrosis?" Poisson regression was used for the crude and adjusted analysis. Results: A total of 1,593 participants were interviewed. 27.3% (95% CI 25.0-29.5) reported having medical diagnosis of at least one of the rheumatic diseases studied. In the adjusted analysis, it was found that female sex (RP=2.86; 95% CI 2.28-3.59; p≤0.001), without schooling (RP=1.24; 95% CI 1.0-1.58; p=0.047), not living alone (RP=1.29; 95% CI 1.03-1.61; p=0.024), poor self-perception of health (PR=1.54; 95% CI 1.63-2.02; p=0.001), spinal problems (PR=1,96; 95% CI 1.67-2.31; p≤0.001), fall in the last year (PR=1.22; 95% CI 1.04-1.43; p=0.013), incapacity for instrumental activities of daily living (PR=1.20; 95% CI 1.02-1.41; p=0.028) and healthcare appointment in the last 3 months (PR=1.20; 95% CI 1.01-1.42; p=0.035) were associated with the presence of rheumatic diseases (rheumatism, arthritis and arthrosis). Conclusion: It is suggested that care of musculoskeletal problems of the spine should be increased, in order to reduce falls and functional disability in older adults, based on actions focused on the prevention of these problems.

Highlights

Rheumatic diseases have high occurrence in older adults, which may lead to a reduction in independence and quality of life
It was found that female sex (RP=2.86; 95% CI 2.28-3.59; p≤0.001), without schooling (RP=1.24; 95% CI 1.0-1.58; p=0.047), not living alone (RP=1.29; 95% CI 1.03-1.61; p=0.024), poor self-perception of health (PR=1.54; 95% CI 1.63-2.02; p=0.001), spinal problems (PR=1,96; 95% CI 1.67-2.31; p≤0.001), fall in the last year (PR=1.22; 95% CI 1.041.43; p=0.013), incapacity for instrumental activities of daily living (PR=1.20; 95% CI 1.02-1.41; p=0.028) and healthcare appointment in the last 3 months (PR=1.20; 95% CI 1.01-1.42; p=0.035) were associated with the presence of rheumatic diseases
More than half of the interviewees (55.3%) had a medical diagnosis of systemic arterial hypertension, 15.1% had diabetes mellitus, 17.2% had depression, 37.4% had a spinal problem, 28.0% reported having suffered a fall in the last year and 54.6% of the respondents said they had a medical appointment the last three months (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Rheumatic diseases have high occurrence in older adults, which may lead to a reduction in independence and quality of life. It was found that female sex (RP=2.86; 95% CI 2.28-3.59; p≤0.001), without schooling (RP=1.24; 95% CI 1.0-1.58; p=0.047), not living alone (RP=1.29; 95% CI 1.03-1.61; p=0.024), poor self-perception of health (PR=1.54; 95% CI 1.63-2.02; p=0.001), spinal problems (PR=1,96; 95% CI 1.67-2.31; p≤0.001), fall in the last year (PR=1.22; 95% CI 1.041.43; p=0.013), incapacity for instrumental activities of daily living (PR=1.20; 95% CI 1.02-1.41; p=0.028) and healthcare appointment in the last 3 months (PR=1.20; 95% CI 1.01-1.42; p=0.035) were associated with the presence of rheumatic diseases (rheumatism, arthritis and arthrosis). Musculoskeletal and joint diseases are the main causes of pain in older adults, accounting for about 40.0% of chronic diseases and 20.0% of health expenditures[1,2] Rheumatic diseases, such as arthritis, arthrosis and/or rheumatism, constitute a group of more than 100 pathologies with similar involvement of synovial joints and symptoms of pain, edema, stiffness, and mobility limitation[3,4]. In the group of musculoskeletal diseases, they account for the 3rd highest cost of hospitalization in Brazil[11]

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