Caracterização funcional de idosos comunitários durante a pandemia por Covid-19 em uma capital brasileira

Abstract

Objective: to compare functional behavior in elderly people aged over and under 85 years, considering a sample of community-dwelling older adults in a Brazilian capital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out with self-administered questionnaires available through digital means, consisting of questions to assess the risk of functional decline, frailty, perception of the impact of social isolation on health and participation of the family member or caregiver in the daily activities of the participants. Results: 373 elderly people with a mean age of 76.8 9,4 years participated in this study. Most of the sample reported that health problems do not limit the performance of activities (63.5%), that their health problems do not force them to stay at home (77.7%) and that they do not regularly depend on walking devices (88.6%). There was a significant difference in the risk of functional decline: 22.5% in individuals aged 60-84 years old and 40.1% in individuals aged 85 years or older needed more care and support from their family members or caregivers to carry out their daily tasks. Conclusions: aging itself does not imply functional dependence, but is an important risk factor for that. In the present study, the group of elderly aged 85 years and older had a higher risk of functional decline, need for support and care from family members, use of walking aids and activity limitations. The data suggest that this group must be considered a priority in interventions to mitigate the impacts of social isolation during pandemic periods and in similar epidemiological, clinical and psychosocial circumstances.