Potentially inappropriate medications: predictor for mortality in a cohort of community-dwelling older adults.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate whether the potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use is a predictor for mortality in a community-based population of older adults. METHODS: A cohort study was performed between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2011, based on data from a representative sample of the population aged 60 years or older living in Bambuí, Brazil. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the association between the variable of interest (use of PIM or pharmacological groups of PIM) and mortality were based on the extended Cox model for proportional hazards. The extended model was adopted to include the measurement of the exposure of interest throughout the follow-up period and not only at baseline. Adjustment variables included sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and use of health care services and medications. A level of significance of 5% was adopted for all analyses. RESULTS: The prevalence of PIM use was 56.0% (95%CI 53.4-58.6). After multiple adjustments, the risk of death among users of at least one PIM was 44% higher (HR = 1.44; 95%CI 1.21 to 1.71) than among those who did not use any PIM. Among the PIM groups analyzed, antipsychotics were the most strongly associated with mortality (HR = 2.33; 95%CI 1.72 to 3.17). CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed a high prevalence of PIM use among the community-based aged population. It also identified PIM use as a predictor for mortality in this group of individuals. This indicates the need for selection of safer drug therapy alternatives in this patient group.

"My life is about to take care of myself": therapeutic itineraries of care for frail older adults. / "Minha vida é me cuidar": itinerários terapêuticos de cuidado para a pessoa idosa em processo de fragilização.

The present study sought to understand how frail older adults perceive their therapeutic care itineraries. This qualitative research was based on Critical Medical Anthropology. Data were collected through interviews in the homes of 22 older adults, whose average age was 79. The emic analysis was guided by the model of Signs, Meanings, and Actions. All interviewees expressed access to professional care in their trajectories, which are understood as insufficient, unprepared, prejudiced, uncomfortable, contradictory, (un)accessible, realization, respectful, and excessive. Therapeutic itineraries were also revealed in the psychosocial and cultural spheres. Several day-to-day actions were evaluated and interpreted in the record of self-care and justified by this end: the time they wake up, sleep, what they eat, and how they behave. They face the lack of care policies in their trajectories, labeling their bodies as undesirable due to physical, symbolic, communicational, attitudinal, systematic, cultural, and political barriers. Thus, they bring to light therapeutic pluralism, challenges, confrontations, insistence, and resistance in maintaining care when experiencing old age with frailties.

O trabalho buscou compreender a percepção de pessoas idosas em processo de fragilização sobre seus itinerários terapêuticos de cuidados. Esta pesquisa qualitativa, ancorou-se na antropologia médica crítica. A coleta dos dados ocorreu por meio de entrevistas no domicílio de 22 pessoas idosas, com média etária de 79 anos. A análise êmica foi guiada pelo modelo dos signos, significados e ações. Todos os(as) entrevistados(as) expressam acessar cuidados profissionais em sua trajetória que são interpretados como: insuficientes, despreparados, preconceituosos, incômodos, contraditórios, (in)acessíveis, um achado, respeitosos e excessivos. Os itinerários terapêuticos revelam-se também nos âmbitos psicossociais e culturais. Diversas ações do dia a dia vão sendo avaliadas e interpretadas no registro do cuidado consigo e justificadas por esse fim: o horário que acorda, que dorme, o que come, como se comporta. Em suas trajetórias, deparam-se com a falta de políticas de cuidados, com o enquadramento de seus corpos como indesejáveis, com barreiras físicas, simbólicas, comunicacionais, atitudinais, sistemáticas, culturais e políticas. Desse modo, revelam o pluralismo terapêutico, os desafios, os enfrentamentos, a insistência e a resistência na manutenção de cuidados ao experienciar velhices com fragilidades.

Greater Care Program in the face of the challenges of aging: a qualitative analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the perception of different actors involved in the older adults care process in the intersectoral strategy of the Programa Maior Cuidado (PMC - Greater Care Program), aiming at the development of actions that contribute to the improvement of the services provided. METHODS: Eleven qualitative interviews guided by a semi-structured script were conducted in 2020 with key informants directly involved in the PMC: the older adults and their families, caregivers, health professionals and social assistance. In addition, to understand the functioning and proposals of the PMC, a documentary analysis was also carried out with the tracking of existing information on the guidelines, protocols, and management instruments. The content analysis technique was used to classify textual data, and the interpretation process was mediated by the theoretical-methodological framework of hermeneutic anthropology. RESULTS: Two categories were identified: "Repercussions of the care offered by the PMC: the 'little' that makes a difference" and "Problems beyond the PMC: the limits of family care in the face of violence against the older adults". For all interviewees, the perception the PMC is very necessary is unison, being able to minimize the occurrence of health problems and avoid transfers of the older adults to hospitals and Long Stay Institutions for the Elderly (Instituição de Longa Permanência - ILPI in Portuguese). Chronic comorbidities increase the demands of health care and generate situations that can be managed by the PMC caregiver. Population aging requires the planning of strategies and public policies aimed at providing continuous care for the older adults, including those living in communities. The PMC emerges as an intersectoral alternative to assist in this issue. CONCLUSIONS: The PMC can be considered a good practice model to be expanded to other locations, however there are gaps that need to be rediscussed so that its processes are improved and its results enhanced.

[Longitudinal association between social capital and functional disability in a cohort of community dwelling older adults]. / Associação longitudinal entre capital social e incapacidade funcional em uma coorte de idosos residentes em comunidade.

This study aimed to investigate the association between social capital and functional disability, based on a longitudinal perspective, using data from the cohort of older adults from Bambuí, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The baseline of this study was composed of all surviving and disability-free - up until the seventh year of follow-up (2004) - older adults who were followed up until 2011. The outcome variable was functional disability for basic activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), separately analyzed. Social capital was the exposure of interest, measured through its cognitive (cohesion and social support) and structural (social participation and satisfaction with the neighborhood) components. Sociodemographic variables, health conditions, and lifestyle habits were used for adjustment purposes, and the occurrence of death was considered a competitive event. The hypothesis of association between social capital and functional disability was tested using the competing risk model, which provides hazard ratios (HR) and a 95% confidence interval (95%CI). After multivariate analysis, social capital - in its structural component - was associated with functional disability. Older adults who were dissatisfied with the neighborhood had a higher risk of developing functional disability for IADL (HR = 2.36; 95%CI: 1.31-4.24), in relation to their counterparts. This study results suggest that functional disability is associated with aspects other than health, evidencing the need for the development of policies and interventions that support aspects related to the physical and social environment in which older adults live.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a associação entre capital social e a incapacidade funcional, numa perspectiva longitudinal, utilizando dados da coorte de idosos de Bambuí, Minas Gerais, Brasil. A linha de base do estudo foi composta por todos os idosos sobreviventes e livres de incapacidade no sétimo ano de seguimento (2004), acompanhados até 2011. A variável desfecho foi a incapacidade funcional para as ABVD (atividades básicas de vida diária) e AIVD (atividades instrumentais de vida diária), analisadas separadamente. A exposição de interesse foi o capital social, mensurado por meio de seus componentes cognitivo (coesão e suporte social) e estrutural (participação social e satisfação com a vizinhança). Variáveis sociodemográficas, de condições de saúde e de hábitos de vida foram utilizadas para efeitos de ajuste, e a ocorrência de óbito foi considerada evento competitivo. A hipótese de associação entre capital social e incapacidade funcional foi testada por meio do modelo de riscos competitivos, que fornece hazard ratios (HR) e intervalos de 95% de confiança (IC95%). Após a análise multivariada, o capital social, em seu componente estrutural, esteve associado à incapacidade funcional. Idosos insatisfeitos com a vizinhança apresentaram risco maior de desenvolver incapacidade funcional para AIVD (HR = 2,36; IC95%: 1,31-4,24), em relação às suas contrapartes. Os resultados desse estudo sugerem que a incapacidade funcional está associada a outros aspectos que não somente da saúde, evidenciando a necessidade de desenvolver políticas e intervenções que abarquem aspectos ligados ao ambiente físico e social em que o idoso está inserido.

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la asociación entre el capital social y la discapacidad funcional desde una perspectiva longitudinal, utilizando datos de la cohorte de ancianos de Bambuí, Minas Gerais, Brasil. La línea de base de este estudio estaba compuesta por todos los supervivientes de edad avanzada y sin discapacidad en el séptimo año de seguimiento (2004), seguidos hasta 2011. La variable de resultado fue la discapacidad funcional para las ABVD (actividades básicas de la vida diaria) y las AIVD (actividades instrumentales de la vida diaria), analizadas por separado. La exposición de interés fue el capital social, medido a través de sus componentes cognitivo (cohesión y apoyo social) y estructural (participación social y satisfacción con el barrio). Se utilizaron variables sociodemográficas, de condiciones de salud y de estilo de vida para los efectos de ajuste, y la ocurrencia de la muerte se consideró un evento competitivo. La hipótesis de asociación entre el capital social y la discapacidad funcional se probó mediante el modelo de riesgos competitivos, que proporciona tasas de riesgo (hazard ratios, HR) e intervalos del 95% de confianza (IC95%). Tras el análisis multivariante, el capital social en su componente estructural se asoció con la discapacidad funcional. Los ancianos insatisfechos con su vecindario tenían un mayor riesgo de desarrollar una discapacidad funcional para las AIVD (HR = 2,36; IC95%: 1,31-4,24) en comparación con sus homólogos. Los resultados sugieren que la discapacidad funcional está asociada a otros aspectos además de la salud, lo que pone de manifiesto la necesidad de desarrollar políticas e intervenciones que abarquen aspectos relacionados con el entorno físico y social en el que se insertan las personas mayores.

Healthcare access, utilization, and quality after a disaster: results from the Brumadinho Health Project.

OBJECTIVE: In January 2019 a dam at the Córrego do Feijão mine suffered a catastrophic failure that killed 270 people and caused extensive damage. It is unknown how exposure to such a disaster might affect healthcare utilization. METHODS: We assessed survey data from the Brumadinho Health Project, a cohort study that includes people who were exposed to the dam failure and two comparison groups: people unexposed to mining or the disaster and people from a mining community, but not exposed to the disaster. Main outcomes include any doctor visit or hospitalization in the past year, having a usual source of healthcare, having blood pressure and blood sugar checked, and being up to date with vaccinations, for adults 18 years and over. We used survey-weighted robust Poisson regression to assess differences between those exposed and the two comparison groups while controlling for confounders. RESULTS: In multivariable models, the exposed group had a 15% higher chance of having a doctor visit than the unexposed group. For hospitalization and reports of blood pressure and blood sugar assessments, there was no significant difference among any of the groups. The exposed group had a 24% higher chance and the unexposed mining community had a 143% higher chance of being up to date with immunizations, as compared to the unexposed group. CONCLUSION: There were some differences in healthcare utilization among individuals exposed to the dam failure. Continued monitoring of the situation is warranted, as the full consequences of such a traumatic event may take considerable time to unfold.

Sociodemographic and residential factors associated with multimorbity: results of Brumadinho Health Project.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of multimorbidity and sociodemographic and residential factors associated with this condition among adults living in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with baseline data from the Brumadinho Health Project, conducted in 2021 and comprising 2,777 individuals aged 18 years and over. The outcome variable was multimorbidity, defined by the existence of two or more of 20 chronic diseases. The exploratory variables were sex, age group, educational level, skin color and area of residence according to the dam failure. The association between exploratory variables and multimorbidity was assessed by logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of multimorbidity was 53.8% (95%CI 50.6-56.9). A greater chance of multimorbidity was found among women (adjusted OR=2.5; 95%CI 1.9-3.2), in participants aged between 40 and 59 (adjusted OR=2.8; 95%CI 1.8-4.3) or 60 years and older (adjusted OR=7.9; 95%CI 4.7-13.4) and in residents of the areas that were directly affected by the dam failure (adjusted OR=1.6; 95%CI 1.3-2.0). CONCLUSION: The burden of multimorbidity on the population of Brumadinho requires effective preventive measures and actions to the whole population, but mainly to the most vulnerable groups, that is, women, middle-aged and older individuals, and those directly affected by the dam failure, in addition to a timely provision of health care to reverse this situation.

Food consumption of Brumadinho Health Project participants.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the food consumption patterns of residents of Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil, according to sociodemographic characteristics, neighborhood and area of residence. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with baseline data from the Brumadinho Health Project, conducted with 2,805 adult individuals. The healthy food consumption markers analyzed were: fruits and vegetables (FV), beans and fish; the unhealthy markers were: sweets and soda/artificial juices, whole-fat milk and red meat with visible fat or chicken with skin. Prevalence values and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the total sample and according to sociodemographic characteristics, presence of commercial establishments with varieties of FV in the neighborhood and area of residence affected by the dam failure. RESULTS: Among the healthy food consumption markers, the most common was beans (81.6%), and among the unhealthy ones, whole-fat milk (68.8%) and red meat with visible fat/chicken with skin (61.1%). Women were more prone to higher consumption of FV, while men, of beans and fish; the prevalence of these markers was higher among individuals with higher education degrees and higher incomes. Unhealthy eating markers were more prevalent among men, younger people, individuals with lower educational level and lower incomes, and residents in an area directly affected by the dam failure or in a mining region. CONCLUSION: Less than half of the participants were considered to follow regular or recommended consumption of healthy eating markers, except for beans. Individual characteristics and area of residence were associated with individuals' food consumption patterns and should be taken into account in actions to promote adequate and healthy eating.

Chronic respiratory diseases and respiratory symptoms after a mining dam rupture: Brumadinho Health Project.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory symptoms, in Brumadinho, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, after a dam rupture. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, including a representative sample of adults (aged 18 years and over) in the municipality. Associations were assessed between dependent variables (medical diagnosis of asthma and COPD; symptoms of wheezing, dry cough, and nose irritation) and exploratory variables (sex, age group, smoking habit, having worked at Vale S.A. company before the dam rupture, time and area of residence in relation to the dam rupture). Logistic regression models with odds ratio (OR) calculation and 95% confidence interval were used. RESULTS: We identified a prevalence of 7.2% of asthma; 3.5% of COPD; 8.8% of wheezing; 23.6% of dry cough; and 31.8% of nose irritation. We observed a greater chance of asthma among women and residents in the affected and mining regions, while a greater chance of COPD was observed in smokers and in those with longer time of residence in the municipality. Among the symptoms, we verified a higher chance of nose irritation among women, while a higher chance of wheezing and dry cough were found among smokers (current and former). Residents of regions affected by the mud reported a greater chance of presenting all the analyzed symptoms. Conversely, level of education was negatively associated with wheezing and dry cough. CONCLUSION: We found respiratory changes and identified the groups most vulnerable to developing them, which could contribute to directing actions to reduce the population's respiratory problems.

Factors associated with paid work after the dam failure: Brumadinho Health Project.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors associated with paid work, after the dam failure, based on geographic strata, among men and women residing in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais. METHODS: Baseline data from participants of the Brumadinho Health Project, aged 18 years or older, obtained through a questionnaire, between July and November 2021 (n=2,783) were used. The dependent variable was paid work after the dam failure and the explanatory variables were geographic stratum, age, education, race/skin color, self-perception of health and employment relationship before the event. The adjusted analysis was estimated by logistic regression. All analyses were performed separately for men and women. RESULTS: Paid work after the dam failure was reported by 58.3% (95%CI 55.0-61.6) of the participants, with the highest prevalence among men (71.4%; 95%CI 67.1-75.3) compared to women (48.6%; 95%CI 44.3-52.8) (p<0.001). After adjustments, the results showed that the population who was directly exposed to the disaster was less likely to have a paid work after it, both for women (OR=0.68; 95%CI 0.48-0.95) and for men (OR=0.48; 95%CI 0.30-0.78). In addition, women directly exposed to the disaster and who reported being self-employed before it were less likely to have a paid work, compared to women who reported being employed with or without a formal contract. CONCLUSION: Participation in the labor market is determined by several factors. Thus, intersectoral policies are necessary the population's demands of life and work are met in disaster situations.

Prevalence of psychiatric symptoms and associated factors in the adult population from the area affected by the tailings dam rupture - Brumadinho Health Project.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms and associated factors in the adult population of Brumadinho (MG), after the dam collapse. METHODS: We included 2,740 participants with information about symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, thoughts of death/self-harm, and poor sleep quality collected in 2021. Prevalence values of all conditions were estimated to compare the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms with the participants' sociodemographic characteristics and place of residence. Pearson's c2 test was used, with Rao Scott's correction. Crude and adjusted logistic regressions estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals to assess the association between psychiatric symptoms and participants' characteristics. RESULTS: The most common condition was depressive symptoms (29.3%), followed by post-traumatic stress symptoms (22.9%) and anxious symptoms (18.9%). Regarding the association between participants' characteristics in the adjusted analysis, being a female and living in a mining area was positively associated with symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, thoughts of death/self-harm, and poor sleep quality. A positive association was also found between high school education and post-traumatic stress symptoms. In contrast a negative association was found between being aged ≥60 years and symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. CONCLUSION: High prevalence values were found for all psychiatric symptoms after the dam failure in Brumadinho. Being a female, living in the mining area, being ≥60 years old, and having an educational level were all associated with the psychiatric symptoms investigated.

Brumadinho Health Project: methodological aspects and epidemiological profile of participants in the cohort baseline.

OBJECTIVE: To present the methodological aspects of the Brumadinho Health Project and to describe the epidemiological profile of participants in the baseline cohort. METHODS: Prospective, population-based cohort study in a representative sample of residents (aged 12 and over) of Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, after a mining tailings dam failure. Information for the baseline was collected in 2021, two years after the mining tailings dam collapsed, including sociodemographic, health and service use aspects, among others. Prevalence estimates of health outcomes were described in Brumadinho, as well as in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte and Minas Gerais, using data from the 2019 National Health Survey. All analyses were performed in the software Stata 17.0, considering the sampling weights and design effect. RESULTS: 3,080 (86.4%) residents participated in the study, most of them being females (56.7%) and with a mean age of 46.1 years. The diseases more frequently reported were arterial hypertension (30.1%), high cholesterol (23.1%) and depression (22.5%), similarly to what was observed in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte and Minas Gerais, although the prevalence in Brumadinho was higher. At least one medical appointment and one hospitalization occurred in 75.2% and 9.4% of residents in the past year, respectively. CONCLUSION: It is important to monitor health, physical and mental conditions of residents after the occurrence of a disaster of this magnitude. This information can contribute with risk management of these processes, not only in the affected municipality, but also in other areas where populations are at risk of major disasters.

Use of psychotropic drugs by population in an area affected by the tailings dam rupture: Brumadinho Health Project.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the consumption of psychotropic drugs in the adult population residing in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, after the Vale dam collapse, which occurred in 2019. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, part of the Brumadinho Health Project, developed in 2021, with a representative population-based sample of adults (18 years and over) residing in Brumadinho. A total of 2,805 adults with information on self-reported use of psychotropic drugs (antidepressants and anxiolytics-hypnotics/sedatives) in the last 15 days were included in the analysis. The prevalence of psychotropic drug use was estimated, and the most used psychotropic drugs were identified. Pearson's chi-square test (with Rao-Scott correction) was used to test associations between exposures and use of psychotropic drugs, considering a significance level of p<0.05. RESULTS: The use of antidepressants (14.2%) was more common than the use of anxiolytics or hypnotics/sedatives (5.2%), with sertraline and fluoxetine being the most used antidepressants. The use of anxiolytics and hypnotics/sedatives was higher among residents who lived in the area directly affected by the dam's mud, and the use of any psychotropic drug was higher among those who lost a relative/friend in the disaster and assessed that their health worsened after the disaster, and among women. CONCLUSION: The results of the study corroborate what was observed in other populations exposed to similar tragedies, regarding the pattern of associations and the of use of psychotropic drugs.

Integrated Care in the Community: The Case of the Programa Maior Cuidado (Older Adult Care Programme) in Belo Horizonte-Minas Gerais, BRA.

Internationally, there is a large body of scientific evidence concerning the benefits of integrating health and social care to ensure that frail older people living in the community receive the assistance they need to maintain independence. In the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, located in the state of Minas Gerais, an integrated care intervention has been developed: the Programa Maior Cuidado - Older Adult Care Programme (PMC). This programme represents a pioneering example in Brazil of the provision of carers for highly vulnerable older people, through integrated action between public health and social service agencies. This paper draws on the first phase of a mixed method evaluation of PMC, including data from documentary sources, focus groups, empirical observation and expert workshops, to examine the processes that led to the establishment of programme. The origins of the PMC are discussed and its operational processes, with a particular emphasis on integrated activities and the roles of different actors. The paper situates PMC within comparable international experiences of integrated provision for older people and considers how it has been affected by unique context and challenging of a middle-income country.

[Care of the elderly individual in pain in the field of Public Health practices]. / O cuidado da pessoa idosa em dor no campo de práticas da Saúde Coletiva.

Pain involves sociocultural and psychosocial dimensions that influence the experience and expression of the pain phenomenon, as well as the human and technological resources required for its care. This article seeks to understand the meaning attributed by elderly people to care of the person in old age who experiences pain and discuss it from the approach to pain in public health practices. The research was developed using a qualitative anthropological approach and based on the intersubjective contact between the researcher and the individuals researched. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 57 elderly people. The methodology of Signs, Meanings and Actions governed the collection and analysis of the data to investigate behavior associated with pain. The meaning of care of pain in public health practices was observed in three analytical categories, namely pain in the context of life, language in the care of the person in pain, and the pain inflicted in care practices. The care of pain in health care is not limited to the organic aspect, but it mobilizes the whole existence of the elderly person, interferes in the communicative process and causes suffering. Care of pain must include the users in the therapeutic process and mobilize them to regain control over their lives.

A dor envolve dimensões socioculturais e psicossociais que influem na experiência e expressão do fenômeno doloroso, bem como nos recursos humanos e tecnológicos necessários para o seu cuidado. Este artigo busca compreender o significado atribuído por idosos ao cuidado da pessoa na velhice que vivencia processo álgico e discuti-lo a partir da abordagem conferida à dor nas práticas de saúde coletiva. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida na abordagem qualitativa de cunho antropológico e fundamentada no contato intersubjetivo entre pesquisador/sujeitos pesquisados. Foram realizadas entrevistas individuais semiestruturadas com 57 idosos. A metodologia de Signos, Significados e Ações orientou a coleta e análise dos dados possibilitando a investigação das representações e comportamentos concretos associados à experiência da dor. Observou-se o sentido do cuidado da dor nas práticas da saúde coletiva em três categorias analíticas: a dor no contexto de vida, a linguagem no cuidado da pessoa em dor, e a dor infligida nas práticas de cuidado. O cuidado da dor na atenção à saúde não se prende ao orgânico, mas mobiliza toda a existência da pessoa idosa, interfere no processo comunicativo e produz sofrimento. O cuidado à dor precisa incluir o usuário no processo terapêutico e mobilizá-lo para assumir de volta sua vida.

Evolution of publications on health of the older adults in the Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva. / Evolução das publicações em saúde do idoso na Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva.

The present study analyzed the profile of publications related to the health of the older adults in the Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, in terms of quantitative evolution, methodological approach, thematic and institutions involved. The selection of articles considered the title, abstract and descriptors and covered all the content published between 1996 and 2019. The articles included were classified according to the year of publication, type, theme, methodological approach and institutional link of the first author. Data analysis was based on absolute and relative frequencies, in addition to summary (mean) and variability (standard deviation) measures. The results showed a consistent increase in publications on the health of the older adults in the Journal Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, with a predominance of the quantitative approach, mainly focused on investigating the topic related to health conditions and the use of health services and supplies. In the majority, the main author was linked to a public teaching/research institution, located in the Southeast region. The results indicate that the journal contributed to give greater visibility to the health of the older adults, but that the publications on this theme reproduce the inequality observed in the national scientific production.

O presente trabalho analisou o perfil das publicações relacionadas à saúde do idoso no periódico Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, em termos de sua evolução quantitativa, abordagem metodológica, temática e instituições envolvidas. A seleção dos artigos considerou o título, resumo e descritores e cobriu todo o conteúdo publicado entre 1996 e 2019. Os artigos incluídos foram classificados quanto ao ano de publicação, tipo, temática, abordagem metodológica e vínculo institucional do primeiro autor. A análise dos dados baseou-se em frequências absolutas e relativas, além de medidas-síntese (média) e de variabilidade (desvio-padrão). Os resultados mostraram um consistente crescimento das publicações acerca da saúde do idoso na Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, com predominância da abordagem quantitativa, voltada majoritariamente para a investigação de temática relacionada às condições de saúde e ao uso de serviços e insumos de saúde. Na maior parte deles, o autor principal era vinculado a uma instituição de ensino/pesquisa de caráter público, localizada na região Sudeste. Os resultados indicam que o periódico tem contribuído para dar uma maior visibilidade à saúde do idoso, mas que as publicações sobre esse tema reproduzem a desigualdade vista na produção científica nacional.

Increased use of benzodiazepines among older adults: Bambuí Project. / Aumento da utilização de benzodiazepínicos entre idosos mais velhos: Projeto Bambuí.

BACKGROUND: Benzodiazepines are the most widely used psychoactive drugs, despite the risks associated with their prolonged use, especially among older adults. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of benzodiazepines among community-dwelling people aged ≥ 75 years. METHODS: The study was conducted among members of the baseline (in 1997) and survivors (in 2012) of the Bambuí Project cohort. The prevalence of benzodiazepine use was estimated separately for each year, and the comparison between them was performed using the Poisson regression model with robust variance. RESULTS: The prevalence of benzodiazepine use was higher in 2012 (33.9%) compared to 1997 (24.9%). After multiple adjustments, the difference in prevalence did not remain significant in study population (PR = 1.25; 95%CI 0.99 - 1.60), unlike that observed in the female stratum (PR = 1.38; 95%CI 1.04 - 1.84). Clonazepam was the strongest-growing drug between the two years (PR = 4.94; 95%CI 2.54 - 9.62). CONCLUSION: This study showed an important increase in benzodiazepine use in an older adult population. These results are concerning as these drugs are contraindicated for use in older adults, mainly if used chronically, and are available in the national list of essential medicines. Health professionals should be aware of the risks involved in its use regarding this population.

Meeting the complex challenge of health and social care provision for rapidly-ageing populations: introducing the concept of "avoidable displacement from home".

The increasing numbers of people at very old ages pose specific policy challenges for health and social care and highlight the need to rethink established models of service provision. The main objective of this paper is to introduce the concept of "avoidable displacement from home" (ADH). The study argues that ADH builds on and adds value to existing concepts, offering a holistic, person-centered framework for integrated health and social care provision for older people. It also demonstrates that this framework can be applied across different levels, ranging from macro policymaking to organizational and individual decision-making. The paper pays attention to the Brazilian context but argues that ADH is a universally applicable concept.

[Alterity of the body of the elderly: estrangement and pain in Public Health]. / Alteridade do corpo do velho: estranhamento e dor na Saúde Coletiva.

In old age, the ailing patient's body becomes estranged and reveals an awareness of alterity. This paper investigates how the body of the elderly addresses the estrangement as a subject, producing its own actions in the experience of disease and practice of public health. The research, developed using the qualitative approach of an anthropological nature, is based on the assumptions of ethnography. Individual interviews with a semi-structured script in the universe of 57 elderly people were conducted. The methodology of Signs, Meanings and Actions oriented the data collection and analysis enabling the investigation of representations and concrete behaviors associated with the otherness of the body. There was the sense of production of otherness in relation to two analytical categories associated with aging and disease. A split between the active body of the memory and another experienced with limitations in the present is detected, reflecting the confrontation of self-care and adherence to treatment. The body of the elderly individual is heir to a body image that remodels constantly, depriving the elderly of their place as contemporary owners of their bodies, as they become other persons.

Na velhice, o corpo doente torna-se estranho e revela uma consciência de alteridade. Este artigo busca investigar como o estranhamento corporal do velho o mobiliza como sujeito, produzindo os endereçamentos de ações próprias na experiência da doença e nas práticas da saúde coletiva. A pesquisa, desenvolvida na abordagem qualitativa de cunho antropológico, fundamenta-se nos pressupostos da etnografia. Foram realizadas entrevistas individuais com roteiro semiestruturado em universo de 57 idosos. A metodologia de Signos, Significados e Ações orientou a coleta e análise dos dados possibilitando a investigação das representações e comportamentos concretos associados à alteridade do corpo. Observou-se o sentido da produção de alteridade em relação a duas categorias analíticas associadas ao envelhecimento e à doença. Nota-se uma cisão entre o corpo ativo da memória e outro vivido com limitações no presente, repercutindo no enfrentamento do autocuidado e adesão ao tratamento. O corpo do velho é herdeiro de uma imagem corporal que se remodela sem cessar, destituindo a pessoa idosa do seu lugar de sujeito contemporâneo de si mesmo, enquanto se torna outrem.

O cuidado de pessoas idosas em processo de fragilização: dificuldades e emoções na perspectiva de quem cuida / The care of older adults in the process of frailty: challenges and emotions from the caregiver's perspective

Resumo Objetivo Compreender dificuldades e emoções no processo de cuidado na perspectiva das pessoas que cuidam de pessoas idosas em processos de fragilização nos seus domicílios. Método Pesquisa qualitativa, ancorada no referencial teórico-metodológico da Antropologia Interpretativa e Médica. Nove cuidadoras e um cuidador foram entrevistados no domicílio da pessoa idosa cuidada. A análise êmica foi guiada pelo modelo dos Signos, Significados e Ações Resultados As dificuldades aparecem na ausência de formação para cuidar, nos constrangimentos das rotinas de higiene, na ausência de cumprimento de direitos trabalhistas, na falta de acessibilidade e de recursos materiais, nas relações familiares e na interpretação das ações da pessoa cuidada como teimosia. As emoções descritas pelas pessoas entrevistadas são de carinho, satisfação, cansaço, estresse, sobrecarga e medo de agravamento e de erro. Conclusão As pessoas que cuidam revelaram um envolvimento intenso e complexo de âmbito moral, mas também ético e emocional. Evidenciam um cenário em que é fundamental reconhecer e enxergar o trabalho de cuidar de as pessoas idosas em processo de fragilização e implementar políticas de cuidado com ações comunitárias e intersetoriais de suporte ao cuidado.

Abstract Objective To comprehend the challenges and emotions within the caregiving process from the perspective of those who care for older adults in situations of frailty within their own homes. Method A qualitative research approach rooted in the theoretical and methodological framework of Interpretative and Medical Anthropology was employed. Nine female caregivers and one male caregiver were interviewed within the homes of the elderly individuals they were caring for. Emic analysis was guided by the model of Signs, Meanings, and Actions. Results Challenges manifest in the absence of caregiver training, constraints related to hygiene routines, the absence of compliance with labor rights, lack of accessibility and material resources, family relationships, and the interpretation of the actions of the care recipients as stubbornness. Emotions described by the interviewees include affection, satisfaction, fatigue, stress, burden, and fear of worsening and making mistakes. Conclusion Caregivers revealed a deep and complex moral, ethical, and emotional involvement in their caregiving roles. They highlight a scenario where it is essential to recognize and acknowledge the work involved in caring for older adults in situations of frailty and to implement caregiving policies with community and cross-sector support actions.

A longitudinal study of the association between social capital and mortality in community-dwelling elderly Brazilians. / Um estudo longitudinal da associação do capital social e mortalidade entre idosos brasileiros residentes em comunidade.

The aim of this study was to verify whether social capital is a predictor of all-cause mortality in community-dwelling elderly Brazilians. Participation included 935 surviving elderly from the elderly cohort of the Bambui Project in 2004, who were followed until 2011. The outcome was all-cause mortality and the exposure of interest was social capital, measured in its two components, cognitive (social cohesion and social support) and structural (social participation and neighborhood satisfaction). Sociodemographic variables, health conditions, and smoking were included in the analysis for adjustment purposes. Data analysis was based on the Cox proportional hazards model, providing hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The social participation dimension of social capital's structural component was the only dimension independently associated with mortality: elderly Brazilians that did not participate in social groups or associations showed a two-fold higher risk of death (HR = 2.28; 95%CI: 1.49-3.49) compared to their peers. The study's results reveal the need to extend interventions beyond the specific field of health in order to promote longevity, focusing on environmental and social characteristics.

O objetivo do estudo foi verificar se o capital social seria um preditor da mortalidade por todas as causas entre idosos brasileiros residentes em comunidade. Participaram 935 idosos sobreviventes da coorte idosa do Projeto Bambuí em 2004, que foram acompanhados até 2011. O desfecho foi a mortalidade por todas as causas e a exposição de interesse foi o capital social, mensurado em seus dois componentes, o cognitivo (coesão social e o suporte social) e o estrutural (participação social e satisfação com a vizinhança). Variáveis sociodemográficas, de condições de saúde e tabagismo foram incluídas na análise para o propósito de ajuste. A análise dos dados baseou-se no modelo dos riscos proporcionais de Cox, que fornece hazard ratios (HR) e intervalos de 95% de confiança (IC95%). O componente estrutural do capital social, na dimensão da participação social, foi o único independentemente associado à mortalidade: os idosos que não participavam de grupos sociais ou associações apresentaram um risco de morte duas vezes maior (HR = 2,28; IC95%: 1,49-3,49) que suas contrapartes. Os resultados desta investigação evidenciam a necessidade de estender as intervenções direcionadas à promoção da longevidade para além do campo específico de atuação da saúde, voltando-se também para características ambientais e sociais.

El objetivo del estudio fue verificar si el capital social sería un predictor de la mortalidad por todas las causas entre ancianos brasileños residentes en comunidades. Participaron 935 ancianos, supervivientes de la cohorte de ancianos del Proyecto Bambuí en 2004, a quienes se les realizó un seguimiento hasta 2011. El desenlace fue la mortalidad por todas las causas y la exposición de interés fue el capital social, medido en sus dos componentes, el cognitivo (cohesión social y apoyo social) y el estructural (participación social y satisfacción con el vecindario). Las variables sociodemográficas, de condiciones de salud, el tabaquismo, se incluyeron en el análisis para el propósito de ajuste. El análisis de los datos se basó en el modelo de riesgos proporcionales de Cox, que proporciona hazard ratios (HR) e intervalos de 95% de confianza (IC95%). El componente estructural del capital social, en su dimensión de la participación social, fue el único independientemente asociado a la mortalidad: los ancianos que no participaban en grupos sociales o asociaciones presentaron un riesgo de muerte dos veces mayor (HR = 2,28; IC95%: 1,49-3,49) que sus contrapartes. Los resultados de esta investigación evidencian la necesidad de extender las intervenciones dirigidas a la promoción de la longevidad hacia más allá del campo específico de actuación de la salud, dirigiéndose también hacia características ambientales y sociales.