Predictors of frailty in older people users of Primary Health Care

Rev Bras Enferm. 2022 Mar 7;75Suppl 4(Suppl 4):e20201292. doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2020-1292. eCollection 2022.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Objective: to identify the prevalence and predictors of frailty in older people in Primary Health Care.

Method: this is a descriptive and correlational study, carried out in a convenience sample of 136 older people in the community. Data were collected through a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and frailty phenotype. Student's t test or U-Mann-Whitney test, chi-square and binary logistic regression were used for data analysis.

Results: the prevalence of frailty was 26.5% (n=36). Frail individuals had older age (p=0.011), worse self-rated health (p=0.001) and lower physical capacity (p<0.001). In the multivariable regression, it was observed that frail individuals had older age (Odds Ratio=1.111; 95% confidence interval=1.026-1.203) and worse physical capacity (Odds Ratio=0.673; 95% confidence interval=0.508-0.893).

Conclusions: the prevalence of frailty in older people in Primary Health Care was considerable. Advanced age and worse physical capacity were the most relevant predictors of frailty in the elderly.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Frail Elderly
  • Frailty* / epidemiology
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Humans
  • Primary Health Care