Epidemiological profile of elderly women assisted in the “Support Group for Prevention of Functional Disability”

Abstract

Objective: To assess the epidemiological profile of women who spontaneously searched for the Support Group for Prevention of Functional Disability, located in Dendê Community Methods: A study developed in 2007, with a sample of 31 women, whose ages ranged from 60 to 83 years, mean 65.5 ± 5.15 years. We used a questionnaire containing Yes/No questions and multiple choices, and the instruments: a) Lawton scale: rating scale of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL); b) Katz scale: rating scale of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and c) physical evaluation of muscle and joint functions, all in the initial stage of enrollment in the support group. Inference was performed by chi-square test, using the software SPSS version 15. Results: The participants had little schooling and low family income. It turned out the fact that 11 (35.5%) had hypertension, 8 (25.8%) osteoporosis, 9 (29.0%) diabetes and 22 (71.0%) were making use of medicines. All of them were classified as independent (average AIVD of 25.41 and AVD of 5.74). There was statistical significance between feeling weakness in the limbs and joint pain (p = 0.041); feel limb weakness and muscle pain (p = 0.038); feel limb weakness and sight problems (p = 0.004). Conclusion: The profile of the aged was of social independent womem, mostly presenting associated illnesses, making use of diverse medicines and with significant functional limitations.