Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment of the oldest-old in Ribeirão Preto (SP) and Caxias do Sul (RS): indicators for long-lived aging.

Author(s)

Idiane Rosset Cruz

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Enfermagem (EE/SBD)
• Defense date: 2009-11-30

Examining board members

Rosalina Aparecida Partezani Rodrigues; Yeda Aparecida de Oliveira Duarte; Eduardo Ferriolli; Sueli Marques; Jair Licio Ferreira Santos

• Advisor: Rosalina Aparecida Partezani Rodrigues

Abstract

Brazil is one of the developing countries where the age range over 80 years is the fastest growing population group. This group has been little studied in our context, mainly with respect to interregional health-related differences. This comparative and cross-sectional epidemiological research looked at elderly >= 80 years of age living in two communities. The probabilistic sample comprised two groups of elder elderly: one in Ribeirão Preto (RP-SP), with 155 subjects; and another in Caxias do Sul (CS-RS), including 117 subjects. Data were collected through a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, involving home interviews carried out between May 2007 and September 2008. The data collection instrument consisted of demographic and socioeconomic data, anthropometric measures, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), presence of comorbidities, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and lifestyle (alcohol use, smoking, level of physical activity and diet assessment). The mean age was 84.4 (± 4,3) years in RP and 85,0 (± 3,9) years in CS. Female (~ 67%), white (~ 89%) and widowed (~56%) persons predominated in both cities, without any significant differences in these variables. No important difference was found between the two groups\' mean education level, and the elderly\'s mean income was higher (P = 0.020) in RP (R$ 978,2 ± 1,329,6) than in CS (R$ 668.3 ± 596,1). In RP, a greater concentration of both illiterate people and persons with a high education level was found; and of people receiving either less than one minimum wage (MW) or more than 3 MW. Also, the proportion of elderly people with health insurance found in CS (63%) was larger than in RP (49%). No statistically significant difference was found in the mean MMSE score between both groups (20.6 ± 7.5 in RP against 19.5 ± 6.3 in CS; P = 0.23), which was significantly lower for female, older and illiterate people. A larger proportion of independent elderly in terms of IADL was found in RP (22%) when compared with CS (7%; P = 0.001), and a higher score on the FIM in RP (108.2 ± 24.3) than in CS (102.9 ± 19.9; P = 0.058). In both cities, a higher level of independence was found for male, married elderly with higher education and income levels. A larger proportion of overweight and obese elderly was found in CS (41.9% and 21.4%, respectively) than in RP (32.7% and 15.3%, respectively; P = 0.08). Also, in CS, a larger quantity of comorbidities was found (7.6 ± 2.9) than in RP (5.9 ± 2.9; P < 0.001). However, RP displayed a higher score on the GDS (4.1 ± 2.9), with a larger proportion of depressive subjects (39.3%) than in CS (3.1 ± 2.8 and 22.8%, respectively; P = 0.005). In both groups, male, married elderly with higher education levels showed less depressive symptoms. In both cities, after adjusting for age and gender, a positive correlation was observed between the level of FIM and the MMSE, and a negative correlation with the number of comorbidities and the GDS score. As for lifestyle, no significant differences were found between both groups in terms of energy spent on physical activity and smoking. However, in CS, a larger proportion of elderly was found who were consuming or had consumed alcohol, especially wine. Elderly in CS also presented higher daily consumption levels of calories, carbohydrates, saturated fats and sodium than in RP (P < 0.001 for all). In comparison with RP, although elderly in CS demonstrated less inequality in terms of education and income and lower depression rates, their diet is less healthy and prevalence levels of obesity, other comorbidities and functional dependence are higher. Thus, efforts can me made to adequately plan health policies with a view to better complying with the prerequisites of successful aging and providing greater wellbeing to the Brazilian oldest-old. (AU)