Frailty, depression, and quality of life: a study with elderly caregivers

Author(s)

de Melo, Leticia Alves ^[1] ; Machado de Jesus, Isabela Thais ^[1] ; Orlandi, Fabiana de Souza ^[1] ; de Oliveira Gomes, Grace Angelica ^[1] ; Zazzetta, Marisa Silvana ^[1] ; Pereira de Brito, Tabatta Renata ^[2] ; dos Santos-Orlandi, Ariene Angelini ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Alfenas, Alfenas, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem; v. 73, n. 3 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the relationship between frailty, depressive symptoms, and quality of life of elderly caregivers of other elderly living in high social vulnerability. Methods: a descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional study conducted with 40 elderly caregivers. A questionnaire to characterize elderly caregivers, the Fried frailty phenotype, the Geriatric Depression Scale (to screen depressive symptoms) and the Short-Form 6 Dimension (to assess quality of life) were used. For data analysis, Student's t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's chi(2) and Fisher's exact test were used. Results: most were pre-frail (52.5%) and had no evidence of depressive symptoms (57.5%). They presented, on average, a score of 0.76 (+/- 0.1) in relation to quality of life. Statistical significance was observed between the average scores of quality of life with depressive symptoms (p=0.012) and frailty level (p=0.004). Conclusion: frail elderly caregivers with depressive symptoms had a worse perception of quality of life. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50104-0 - Fragility monitoring software for the elderly assisted by the Family Health Support Center (NASF) at São Carlos - SP - Brazil
• Grantee: Marisa Silvana Zazzetta
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research in Public Policies for the National Health Care System (PP-SUS)
• FAPESP's process: 18/04980-3 - Frailty, depressive symptoms and quality of life: a study with elderly caregivers
• Grantee: Letícia Alves de Melo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation