ABSTRACT
Objective:
to analyze prevalence and the factors associated with locomotive syndrome in community-dwelling older adults.
Method:
a cross-sectional study, developed in a municipal center for the care of older adults in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. The sample was for convenience and comprised 204 older adults aged 60 years or more, of both genders and with preserved cognitive capacity, according to parameters of the Mini Mental State Examination. Data collection occurred from March to November 2018, by applying a form for sociodemographic, clinical and falls occurrence characterization and the 25-item Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale. To measure the strength of the associations between the variables, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were adopted. The statistical significance level was set at 5% for the analyses.
Results:
the prevalence of locomotive syndrome found was 37.2%. The factors associated with the presence of locomotive syndrome were individual monthly income (p=0.005); existence of one of the following comorbidities: systemic arterial hypertension (p=0.039), osteoporosis (p=0.016), arthrosis (p<0.001) or obesity (p=0.014); and history of hospitalization in the last year (p=0.007).
Conclusion:
the prevalence of locomotive syndrome found in this study was low and presented higher levels in older adults, with an individual monthly income of two to three minimum wages; who reported having hypertension, osteoporosis, arthrosis or obesity; and with a history of hospitalization in the last year. The health condition investigated showed to be related to aging, with significant repercussions on functionality.
DESCRIPTORS:
Older adult; Locomotion; Syndrome; Musculoskeletal diseases; Healthy aging; Geriatric Nursing