Escalas de avaliação funcional para monitoramento de idoso na atenção primária à saúde

Abstract

To analyze functional capacity, weakness and depression in the elderly, and also to propose the use of scales for functional monitoring in primary health care. Method: Cross-sectional observational study with a quantitative approach, developed in the period from May 2019 to July 2020, from an interview with 618 elderlies in São José de Rio Preto. Data were analyzed from descriptive and inferential statistics with application of the Kolmogorov Simirnov normality test and Spearman correlation; a significance level of 5% was considered. The study was according to the ethical precepts and was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (REC) under opinion number 3.429.122 and CAAE: 16552319.0.0000.5489. Results: The elderlies have presented depressive symptoms (18.0%), some type of weakness (69.9%,), dependence in basic activities of daily living (4.1%,), dependence in instrumental activities of daily living (33.7%) and vulnerability (26.1%). There was correlation between depressive symptoms and education (r=-0.092, p=0.035), between Lawton index and age group (r=0.216, p<0.001), gender (r=0.086, p=0.058), knowing how to read a note (r=-0.148, p<0.001) and education (r=-0.016; p<0.001), between vulnerability and age group (r=0.246, p<0.001), reading a note (r=-0.094; p=0.028) and schooling (r=-0.146; p=0.002), between weakness and age group (r=0.163; p<0.001), color (r=-0.109, p=0.049) and schooling (r=-0.161; p=0.001). There was statistical significance among all scales, with a correlation between depressive symptoms and frailty, Katz index, Lawton and vulnerability, between weakness and Katz index and vulnerability, between Katz index and Lawton and vulnerability, and between Lawton and vulnerability. Conclusion: The analysis of functional capacity, weakness and depression in the elderlies through functional monitoring scales in Primary Health Care can provide effective evidence of biopsychosocial factors that have been affecting the elderlies´ physical and mental health. The applicability of these instruments for assessing the health status of the elderlies is essential for the diagnosis of factors of declining functional capacity, cognitive and mental health of these patients, with an impact on the guidance of the planning of public policies and health actions.