Clinical and functional vulnerability of elderly people from a day center

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the clinical and functional vulnerability of elderly people from a day center. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out with 216 elderly people of a day center in Teresina, state of Piauí, Brazil. Data collection took place between April and August 2018 by means of a questionnaire for sociodemographic and clinical characterization, the clock drawing test (CDT), the Timed up and Go Test (TUG) and the Clinical and Functional Vulnerability Index (IVCF-20). Linear regression with a forward selection was applied to identify the predictive variables of individual vulnerability. Results: It was observed that 37% of the elderly people were identified as showing medium risk with regard to clinical and functional vulnerability and 11.1% of them had a high risk. Sociodemographic (individual and family income) and clinical characteristics (self-declared comorbidities, polypharmacy, urinary incontinence, BADL-dependence, falls, hospitalization, frequency of physical activities, health self-perception, frequent sadness and depression, cognition, oblivion of drug therapy and functional mobility) were associated with clinical and functional vulnerability (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of our study enable the operationalization of public policies and strategies for early detection of clinical and functional vulnerability in elderly people and intervention measures aimed at promoting health and preventing illness based on comprehensive care.