Abstract
Objective
to identify which markers of physical frailty predict depressive symptoms (DS) in old people assisted in Primary Health Care.
Method
this is a quantitative, descriptive, and correlational cross-sectional study was carried out at the Basic Health Unit in Curitiba, (PR), Brazil, with a sample of 389 old people. Data were collected from January to October 2019, using a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, depression scale (Center for Epidemiological Studies) and to evaluate the phenotype of Frailty. The statistical analyzes were performed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics (Pearson’s chi-square), with statistical significance level p < 0.05, and logistic regression, reporting the estimate, p value (Wald test), Prevalence Ratio with a 95% confidence interval.
Results
of the 389 old people, 103 (26.5%) had DS; among these 63 (61.2%) were pre-frail, 19 (18.4%) frail and 21 (20.4%) non-frails. The markers fatigue/exhaustion (p≤0.001) reduced level of physical activity (p≤0.001), unintentional weight loss (p=0.003) and the condition of pre-frailty and frailty were associated with DS s (p=≤0.001). The final predictive model for DS included the markers of fatigue/exhaustion (PR 5.11; 95%CI; 3.81-6.87; p<0.0001) and reduced level of physical activity (PR 2.16, 95%CI %; 1.45-3.22; p<0.0001).
Conclusion
the markers of fatigue/exhaustion phenotype and reduced physical activity are predictors of DS in the old people. This result highlights the importance and need to assess these markers, and the effectiveness of actions to combat sedentary lifestyle in the old people in primary health care.
Keywords
Frail elderly; Depression; Frailty; Primary Health Care