Frailty is associated with sociodemographic and health factors and related to the care context of older caregivers: a Brazilian cross-sectional study

Author(s)

Marcela Naiara Graciani Fumagale Macedo ^[1] ; Élen dos Santos Alves ^[2] ; Isabela Thaís Machado de Jesus ^[3] ; Keika Inouye ^[4] ; Tábatta Renata Pereira de Brito ^[5] ; Ariene Angelini dos Santos-Orlandi ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar). Department of Gerontology - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar). Postgraduate Nursing Program - Brasil

^[3] Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar). Department of Gerontology - Brasil

^[4] Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar). Department of Gerontology - Brasil

^[5] Universidade Federal de Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG). Faculty of Nutrition - Brasil

^[6] Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar). Department of Nursing - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: São Paulo Medical Journal; 2022-09-12.

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND: The task of caring can arise suddenly without guidance or support, resulting in psychological tension and health impairment, which can culminate in the development of frailty. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between frailty and sociodemographic and health aspects related to the care context of older caregivers. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 65 older caregivers registered in family health units in the interior of the state of São Paulo. METHODS: The participants were interviewed individually using the following instruments: a characterization questionnaire, Fried’s frailty phenotype, Zarit Burden’s Interview, Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, Katz Index, and Lawton Scale. In addition, the following statistical tests were applied: Pearson’s chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, and Mann–Whitney test. A significance level of 5% was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Women who took care of their spouses predominated without prior training or the help of other people. Most of the patients were pre-frail (72.3%). Frailty was significantly related to marital status (P = 0.016), depressive symptoms (P = 0.029), cognitive decline (P = 0.029), the degree of kinship (P = 0.015), and burden (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Older caregivers without a partner, with severe depressive symptoms and cognitive changes, who cared for their parents, and had higher levels of burden, presented a higher proportion of frailty. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/07919-3 - Older adults caring for other older adults: a study on burden and frailty
• Grantee: Marcela Naiara Graciani Fumagale Macedo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation