Estudo de seguimento por dois anos de idosos residentes em São Paulo, Brasil: metodologia e resultados preliminares

INTRODUCTION: Previous cross-sectional studies have shown a high prevalence of chronic disease and disability among the elderly. Given Brazil s rapid aging process and the obvious consequences of the growing number of old people with chronic diseases and associated disabilities for the provision of health services, a need was felt for a study that would overcome the limitations of cross-sectional data and shed some light on the main factors determining whether a person will live longer and free of disabling diseases, the so-called successful aging. The methodology of the first follow-up study of elderly residents in Brazil is presented. METHOD: The profile of the initial cohort is compared with previous cross-sectional data and an in-depth analysis of nonresponse is carried out in order to assess the validity of future longitudinal analysis. The EPIDOSO ( Epidemiologia do Idoso ) Study conducted a two-year follow-up of 1,667 elderly people (65+), living in S. Paulo. The study consisted of two waves, each consisting of household, clinical, and biochemical surveys. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In general, the initial cohort showed a similar profile to previous cross-sectional samples in S. Paulo. There was a majority of women, mostly widows, living in multigenerational households, and a high prevalence of chronic illnesses, psychiatric disturbances, and physical disabilities. Despite all the difficulties inherent in follow-up studies, there was a fairly low rate of nonresponse to the household survey after two years, which did not actually affect the representation of the cohort at the final household assessment, making unbiased longitudinal analysis possible. Concerning the clinical and blood sampling surveys, the respondents tended to be younger and less disabled than the nonrespondents, limiting the use of the clinical and laboratory data to longitudinal analysis aimed at a healthier cohort. It is worth mentioning that gender, education, family support, and socioeconomic status were not important determinants of nonresponse, as is often the case.INTRODUÇÃO: Estudos transversais recentes mostraram alta prevalência de doenças crônicas e incapacidades físicas entre idosos. Considerando o rápido processo de envelhecimento do Brasil e as conseqüências que esse aumento de idosos com doenças crônicas e incapacidades associadas acarretará para o sistema de saúde, fazia-se necessário estudo que pudesse superar as limitações dos dados transversais, permitindo determinar quais os fatores determinantes de uma vida longa e livre de doenças incapacitantes, o chamado envelhecimento bem sucedido. É apresentada a metodologia do primeiro estudo epidemiológico longitudinal com idosos residentes na comunidade, no Brasil. MÉTODO: O perfil do cohorte inicial é comparado com dados de estudos anteriores a com o perfil dos não respondentes para avaliar a validade de análises longitudinais futuras.O projeto EPIDOSO (Epidemiologia do Idoso) seguiu por dois anos 1.667 idosos (65+), residentes em São Paulo. Consistiu de duas ondas, cada qual com três inquéritos: domiciliar, clínico e laboratorial. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: O perfil da população não diferiu de estudos anteriores, mostrando maioria de mulheres, viúvas, vivendo em domicílios multigeracionais, com uma alta prevalência de doenças crônicas, distúrbios psiquiátricos e incapacidades físicas. A despeito de todas as dificuldades inerentes a um estudo longitudinal, o grupo de não-respondentes ao segundo inquérito domiciliar não diferiu significativamente dos respondentes, assegurando análises longitudinais livres desse tipo de viés. Em relação aos inquéritos clínico e laboratorial, os não-respondentes mostraram-se mais velhos e mais incapacitados que os respondentes, limitando o uso dos dados clínicos e laboratoriais a análises pertinentes a uma cohorte mais jovem e saudável. Sexo, educação, apoio familiar e nível socioeconômico não influenciaram de forma significativa a taxa de não - resposta, ao contrário do que se costuma verificar.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Clinical and radiological study of swallowing in patients with deglutition disorders, classified into two age groups: adults and older people

BACKGROUND: The abnormalities of swallowing process have multifactor and complex etiologies. The videofluoroscopy has been pointed as the exam of greater utility in diagnostic investigation for these cases. This method, when preceded of an adequate anamnesis, can characterize conveniently the level of the dysfunction and usually identify the cause of abnormality with great precision. AIMS: To study the clinical complaints and findings of the videofluoroscopy examination in patients with deglutition disorders and no clinical evidence associated with neurological disorder, classified into two age groups: adults and older people, and to analyze: symptomatic manifestations, kinds of disorders (oropharyngeal or esophageal) and the capacity of clarifying the clinical complaints through the method of images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy patients with complaint of the capacity of deglutition were analyzed. They had no clinical evidence of associated neurological syndromes or disorders and were classified into two age groups: adults (GI) - £65 years (n = 36) and older (GII) >65 years (n = 34). All patients were submitted to anamnesis to obtain the information about their complaints concerning deglutition. The complaints were characterized as high or low, according to their predominant location of manifestation. All the patients were submitted to videofluoroscopy of the deglutition; these alterations were characterized as oropharyngeal or esophageal. The capacity of clarifying the clinical complaints by videofluoroscopy was evaluated in both groups. RESULTS: Among the complaints analyzed, the only one in which the statistical analysis presented a significant difference between the groups was the complaint of heartburn, which occurred more often in the group GI - eight patients (22.2%) and GII - one patient (2.9%). In the study of videofluoroscopy, it was observed a higher incidence in the oropharyngeal disorder in group GII - 41.2% while in group GI - 13.9%. As for the esophageal disorder, the incidence was similar in both groups GI - 35.3% and GII - 33.3%. Nineteen patients (52.8%) in GI and 23 (67.6%) in GII had their complaints clarified through the videofluoroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of this study, it can be concluded that: 1.The clinical complaints associated with the difficulty of deglutition occur at a similar frequency in adults and older people, with the exception of heartburn that occurs in larger number among adults; 2. Older people present a higher incidence of oropharyngeal deglutition problems; 3. The videofluoroscopy of the deglutition represents a method of great importance for the diagnosis, because it allows the identification of morphofunctional disorders that cannot be adequately identified by anamnesis; 4. The capacity of clarifying diagnosis of the videofluoroscopy of the deglutition is higher in the older people group.RACIONAL: As anomalias do processo da deglutição têm etiologia multifatorial e complexa. A videofluoroscopia da deglutição tem sido apontada como o exame de maior utilidade na investigação diagnóstica desses casos. Tal método, quando precedido de anamnese clínica adequada, consegue caracterizar convenientemente o grau de disfunção e, freqüentemente, identificar a causa da anomalia com grande precisão. OBJETIVOS: Estudar as queixas clínicas e os achados da videofluoroscopia em pacientes com distúrbios da deglutição, sem evidências clínicas de afecções neurológicas associadas, distribuídos em duas faixas etárias - adultos e idosos - e analisar as manifestações sintomáticas, o tipo de disfunção (orofaríngea ou esofágica) e a capacidade de elucidação da queixa clínica pelo método de imagem. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Foram analisados 70 pacientes com queixa de alteração na capacidade de deglutição, sem evidências clínicas de afecções neurológicas associadas, distribuídos em dois grupos: adultos (GI) - idade inferior ou igual a 65 anos (n = 36) e idosos (GII) - idade superior a 65 anos (n = 34). Todos foram submetidos a anamnese para obtenção de informações sobre queixas em relação à deglutição; as queixas foram caracterizadas como altas ou baixas, de acordo com o local predominante de manifestação. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a videofluoroscopia da deglutição; as alterações observadas com esse exame foram caracterizadas como orofaríngeas ou esofágicas. Avaliou-se a capacidade de elucidação da queixa clínica pela videofluoroscopia nos dois grupos. RESULTADOS: Dentre as queixas analisadas, a única cuja análise estatística demonstrou diferença significante entre os grupos, foi a de pirose, que ocorreu com maior freqüência no grupo de adultos (oito pacientes (22,2%) do GI e um (2,9%) do GII referiam tal queixa). Ao estudo videofluoroscópico, observou-se maior ocorrência de disfunção orofaríngea no grupo de pacientes idosos (41,2% GII x 13,9% GI) e ocorrência semelhante, nos dois grupos, de disfunção esofágica (35,3% GII x 33,3% GI). Dezenove (52,8%) pacientes do GI e 23 (67,6%) do GII tiveram suas queixas clínicas elucidadas pela videofluoroscopia. CONCLUSÕES: 1. As queixas clínicas associadas ao quadro de dificuldade de deglutição ocorrem com freqüência semelhante em adultos e idosos, com exceção da queixa de pirose que predomina no grupo com idade menos avançada; 2. pacientes idosos apresentam maior ocorrência de alterações altas de deglutição (orofaríngeas); 3. a videofluoroscopia da deglutição representa método de grande importância diagnóstica, pois permite a identificação de alterações morfofuncionais relevantes que não são passíveis de identificação adequada à anamnese, e 4. a capacidade de elucidação diagnóstica da videofluoroscopia da deglutição é maior no grupo com idade mais avançada.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de Diagnóstico por ImagemUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de Diagnóstico por ImagemSciEL

Association among measures of mobility-related disability and self-perceived fatigue among older people: a population-based study

Objective: To investigate the relationship between self-perceived fatigue with different physical functioning tests and functional performance scales used for evaluating mobility-related disability among community-dwelling older persons. Method: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study. The sample was composed of older persons with 65 years of age or more living in Cuiabá, MT, and Barueri, SP, Brazil. The data for this study is from the FIBRA Network Study. The presence of self-perceived fatigue was assessed using self-reports based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. The Lawton instrumental activities of daily living scale (IADL) and the advanced activities of daily living scale (AADL) were used to assess performance and participation restriction. The following physical functioning tests were used: five-step test (FST), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and usual gait speed (UGS). Three models of logistic regression analysis were conducted, and a significance level of α<0.05 was adopted. Results: The sample was composed of 776 older adults with a mean age (SD) of 71.9 (5.9) years, of whom the majority were women (74%). The prevalence of self-perceived fatigue within the participants was 20%. After adjusting for covariates, SPPB, UGS, IADL, and AADL remained associated with self-perceived fatigue in the final multivariate regression model. Conclusion: Our results suggest that there is an association between self-perceived fatigue and lower extremity function, usual gait speed and activity limitation and participation restriction in older adults. Further cohort studies are needed to investigate which physical performance measure may be able to predict the negative impact of fatigue in older adults

Diagnostic accuracy of the short physical performance battery for detecting frailty in older people

The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is widely used to predict negative health-related outcomes in older adults. However, the cutoff point for the detection of the frailty syndrome is not yet conclusive. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of the SPPB for detecting frailty in community-dwelling older adults. This was a population-based cross-sectional study focusing on households in urban areas. A total of 744 people who were 65 years old or older participated in this study. Frailty was determined by the presence of 3 or more of the following components: unintentional weight loss, self-reported fatigue, weakness, low level of physical activity, and slowness. Diagnostic accuracy measures of the SPPB cutoff points were calculated for the identification of frailty (individuals who were frail) and the frailty process (individuals who were considered to be prefrail and frail). Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed. Odds ratios for frailty and the frailty process and respective CIs were calculated on the basis of the best cutoff points. A bootstrap analysis was conducted to confirm the internal validity of the findings. The best cutoff point for the determination of frailty was ≤ 8 points (sensitivity = 79.7%; specificity = 73.8%; Youden J statistic = 0.53; positive likelihood ratio = 3.05; area under the curve = 0.85). The best cutoff point for the determination of the frailty process was ≤ 10 points (sensitivity = 75.5%; specificity = 52.8%; Youden J statistic = 0.28; positive likelihood ratio = 1.59; area under the curve = 0.76). The adjusted odds of being frail and being in the frailty process were 7.44 (95% CI = 3.90-14.19) and 2.33 (95% CI = 1.65-3.30), respectively. External validation using separate data was not performed, and the cross-sectional design does not allow SPPB predictive capacity to be established. The SPPB might be used as a screening tool to detect frailty syndrome in community-dwelling older adults, but the cutoff points should be tested in another sample as a further validation step9098CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQ17/200

Characteristics of falls in elderly persons residing in the community: a population-based study

<div><p>Abstract Object: to examine the characteristics to the last fall of Brazilian elderly persons who experienced falls in 2008 and 2009, and to identify if there is a relationship with sociodemographic characteristics, physical health, comorbidities, clinical conditions and the circumstances of the falls. Methods: a cross-sectional, population based study was carried out with participants aged 65 and older from Barueri in the state of São Paulo and Cuiabá in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Households were enrolled within each census region according to population density and the number of elderly persons living in each region. A multidimensional questionnaire composed of sociodemographic factors and data regarding falls was used. Associations were analyzed using contingency tables, and Fisher's Exact or Pearson's Chi-square test was used. Results: 774 elderly people were included in the study, 299 of whom reported falling in the previous year. Of these, 176 (58.9%) had fallen once and 123 (41.1%) reported having fallen twice or more. Among fallers the mean age was 72.53 (±6.12) years and 214 (71.6%) were female. About 107 (35.8%) of the elderly reported having fallen forwards, 79 (26.4%) fell to the side and 42(14%) fell backwards. Regarding the circumstances of the falls, 107 (35.8%) reported having lost their balance, 79 (26.4%) said they had stumbled and 42 (14%) said they had slipped. There was an association between the mechanism and circumstances of the falls and having fallen once or twice or more. There was an association between the circumstances of falls and the number of medications taken. Conclusion: The characteristics of falls were different among elderly persons who had fallen once or twice or more, which may guide health professionals, the elderly and their families in relation to specific fall prevention strategies.</p></div

Two-year follow-up study of elderly residents in S. Paulo, Brazil: methodology and preliminary results

INTRODUCTION: Previous cross-sectional studies have shown a high prevalence of chronic disease and disability among the elderly. Given Brazil's rapid aging process and the obvious consequences of the growing number of old people with chronic diseases and associated disabilities for the provision of health services, a need was felt for a study that would overcome the limitations of cross-sectional data and shed some light on the main factors determining whether a person will live longer and free of disabling diseases, the so-called successful aging. The methodology of the first follow-up study of elderly residents in Brazil is presented. METHOD: The profile of the initial cohort is compared with previous cross-sectional data and an in-depth analysis of nonresponse is carried out in order to assess the validity of future longitudinal analysis. The EPIDOSO (`Epidemiologia do Idoso') Study conducted a two-year follow-up of 1,667 elderly people (65+), living in S. Paulo. The study consisted of two waves, each consisting of household, clinical, and biochemical surveys. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In general, the initial cohort showed a similar profile to previous cross-sectional samples in S. Paulo. There was a majority of women, mostly widows, living in multigenerational households, and a high prevalence of chronic illnesses, psychiatric disturbances, and physical disabilities. Despite all the difficulties inherent in follow-up studies, there was a fairly low rate of nonresponse to the household survey after two years, which did not actually affect the representation of the cohort at the final household assessment, making unbiased longitudinal analysis possible. Concerning the clinical and blood sampling surveys, the respondents tended to be younger and less disabled than the nonrespondents, limiting the use of the clinical and laboratory data to longitudinal analysis aimed at a healthier cohort. It is worth mentioning that gender, education, family support, and socioeconomic status were not important determinants of nonresponse, as is often the case