Sociodemographic and health factors associated with chronic pain in institutionalized elderly

OBJECTIVES: to characterize chronic pain in institutionalized elderly and verify the associated factors.METHOD: observational, cross-sectional and non-experimental study with a quantitative approach. The study participants were 124 elderly living in Long-Term Care Institutions for the Elderly (LTCIs) in a city in Minas Gerais (Brazil). Approval for the project was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee. The elderly's clinical and sociodemographic variables and pain-related aspects were assessed. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis (chi-squared).RESULTS: the prevalence of chronic pain corresponded to 58.1%; for more than 10 years (26.4%); in lower limbs (31.9%); characterized as "twinges" (33.3%); 33.3% adopted medication treatment; the pain did not improve (41.7 %); or worsen (34.7 %). It was evidenced that elderly aged 60├ 70 old had 70% less chances of chronic pain than those aged 80 years and older (p=0.018).CONCLUSION: institutionalized elderly have a high prevalence of chronic pain, mainly in the lower limbs. No factors of pain improvement or worsening were identified and medication was evidenced as the preferred treatment. Age showed to be associated with the presence of pain. It is considered important to accomplish multiprofessional actions at the LTCIs to guide prevention and rehabilitation actions of the pain episodes in these elderly

Efeitos de um programa de hidroterapia na pressão arterial e freqüência cardíaca de mulheres idosas sedentárias

Este estudo visou analisar as conseqüências cardiocirculatórias (na pressão arterial, PA, e freqüência cardíaca, FC) de um programa de hidroterapia cujo objetivo clínico era ganho de força muscular e flexibilidade para mulheres idosas saudáveis e sedentárias. Participaram 16 idosas, de 65 a 70 anos. O programa constou de 32 sessões, com uma hora de duração cada, de exercícios em imersão para ganho de força muscular e flexibilidade, com grau de dificuldade crescente, em sete fases. As quatro primeiras sessões foram usadas para adaptação ao meio aquático e desconsideradas para coleta de dados. As medidas de PA e FC foram coletadas ao final de cada fase, em quatro momentos: repouso fora da água, em repouso 3 minutos após imersão, em imersão ao final dos exercícios, e três minutos após a saída da piscina. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente com nível de significância a pThis study aimed at analysing cardiocirculatory effects (on blood pressure, BP, and heart rate, HR) of a hydrotherapy program of which the purpose was to increase muscle force and flexibility of 16 sedentary, healthy, 65-to-70 year-old women. The program consisted of 32 1-hour sessions of strength and flexibility training exercises, with increasing degree of difficulty in seven phases. The first four sessions were used for adaptation to the aquatic environment and the respective data were not considered. BP and HR were monitored at the end of each phase in four different moments: at rest before diving, at rest 3 minutes after immersion, still immerged at the end of exercises, and at rest, 3 minutes after exiting the pool. Collected measures were statistically analysed, and significance level set at p<0.05. Results show significant mean at-rest systolic BP decrease of 5.6 mmHg, and mean at-rest diastolic BP decrease of 9.7 mmHg, from the 5th (base) session to the 32nd (last) session; participants' BP classification turned from threshold-normal to normal, according to the Brazilian Hypertension Society. Also found was a non-significant 1.0-bpm increase in mean HR. Findings suggest that, though HR has not been affected, aquatic strength and flexibility exercises with increasing difficulty do not overload - and may positively affect - cardiocirculatory system in healthy women aged 65 to 70 years old

Capacidade funcional de idosos institucionalizados com e sem doença de Alzheimer

INTRODUCTION:The longevity of the population has brought about chronic nd degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. This disease emphasizes the physiological changes of aging, altering a person's ability to care for itself, producing great dependence.OBJECTIVE:To compare the functional capacity of institutionalized elderly people with and without Alzheimer's disease.METHODS:Cross-sectional study involving 201 elderly residents in four long-stay public institutions, divided into experimental group with 20 elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease, and control group with 181 subjects without the disease. We obtained demographic data and participants underwent functional evaluation by Barthel index.RESULTS:The majority of residents were female in both groups; the experimental group had higher age (p=0.002), shorter time to institutionalization (p=0.01) and were dependent (p=0.01), compared with subjects without the disease.CONCLUSION:The elderly institutionalized patients with Alzheimer's disease have lower functional capacity than elderly residents without the disease.INTRODUÇÃO: A longevidade da população trouxe à tona doenças de natureza crônica e degenerativa, como a doença de Alzheimer. Esta doença acentua as alterações fisiológicas do envelhecimento, alterando a capacidade da pessoa para cuidar de si mesma, produzindo grande dependência. OBJETIVO: Comparar a capacidade funcional de idosos institucionalizados com e sem a doença de Alzheimer. METODOLOGIA: Estudo transversal do qual participaram 201 idosos residentes em quatro instituições públicas de longa permanência para idosos, divididos em grupo experimental com 20 idosos com doença de Alzheimer e grupo controle com 181 idosos sem a doença. Foram obtidos os dados sociodemográficos, e os idosos foram submetidos a avaliação funcional pelo índice de Barthel. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos residentes era do gênero feminino em ambos os grupos; o grupo experimental apresentou maior idade (p=0,002), menor tempo de institucionalização (p=0,01) e dependência (p=0,01) em comparação aos idosos sem a doença. CONCLUSÃO: Os idosos institucionalizados com doença de Alzheimer apresentam menor capacidade funcional que os idosos sem a doença.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho Faculdade de Ciências e TecnologiaFaculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio PretoCentro Universitário de Rio Preto Departamento de FisioterapiaUniversidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologi