Frailty syndrome in the elderly in elderly with chronic diseases in Primary Care

Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2019 Jun 3:53:e03449. doi: 10.1590/S1980-220X2018002603449.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the frailty syndrome in the elderly nursing diagnosis in elderly with chronic diseases of a health district of the Federal District.

Method: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly patients served at the Basic Health Units, who presented arterial hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus. The following were used: a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Mini-Mental State Examination, anthropometric data, evaluation of sarcopenia (measured by body composition), muscle strength and functional capacity, and the identification of NANDA-I nursing diagnosis. A statistical software was used for data analysis.

Results: Participation of 78 elderly people, of which 93.6% of had Impaired memory, 93.6% had Impaired physical mobility, 82.1% had Fatigue, 76.9% had Impaired ambulation, 53.8% had Dressing self-care deficit, 43.6% had Activity Intolerance, 35.9% had Social Isolation, 30.8% had Hopelessness, 29.5% had Feeding self-care deficit, 29.5% had Bathing self-care deficit, 12.8% had Toileting self-care deficit, and 10.3% had Decreased cardiac output.

Conclusion: The nursing diagnosis Frailty Syndrome in the Elderly allows a multidimensional view of the elderly. Since one factor can cause health problems in several health fields, nurses must intervene early, plan and implement actions in the short and long term.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Frail Elderly*
  • Frailty / diagnosis
  • Frailty / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Diagnosis
  • Primary Health Care*
  • Self Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires