Factors associated with lower gait speed among the elderly living in a developing country: a cross-sectional population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Among community-dwelling older adults, mean values for gait speed vary substantially depending not only on the population studied, but also on the methodology used. Despite the large number of studies published in developed countries, there are few population-based studies in developing countries with socioeconomic inequality and different health conditions, and this is the first study with a representative sample of population. To explore this, the association of lower gait speed with sociodemographic, anthropometric factors, mental status and physical health was incorporated participants' weight (main weight) in the analysis of population of community-dwelling older adults living in a developing country. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional population based on a sample of 1112 older adults aged 60 years and over from Health, Wellbeing and Aging Study cohort 2010. Usual gait speed (s) to walk 3 meters was stratified by sex and height into quartiles. Multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the independent effect of each factor associated with a slower usual gait speed. RESULTS: The average walking speed of the elderly was 0.81 m/s-0.78 m/s among women and 0.86 m/s among men. In the final model, the factors associated with lower gait speed were age (OR = 3.56), literacy (OR = 3.20), difficulty in one or more IADL (OR = 2.74), presence of cardiovascular disease (OR = 2.15) and sedentarism. When we consider the 50% slower, we can add the variables handgrip strength, and the presence of COPD. CONCLUSIONS: Gait speed is a clinical marker and an important measure of functional capacity among the elderly. Our findings suggest that lower walking speed is associated with age, education, but especially with modifiable factors such as impairment of IADL, physical inactivity and cardiovascular disease. These results reinforce how important it is for the elderly to remain active and healthy.

Risk factors for pneumonia in hospitalized older people with femoral fractures: Results from a Brazilian prospective cohort.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is a common complication in older people who are hospitalized to treat different fractures, which increases morbimortality in this population. OBJECTIVES: Estimating the pneumonia incidence density in older people hospitalized to treat femoral fractures and identifying risk factors for this infection. METHODS: Prospective cohort study whose data were collected from a population of older people who were being treated for femoral fractures at a hospital in the central region of Brazil between September 2016 and February 2017. The pneumonia diagnosis was based on radiography and clinical tests. Incidence density was estimated according to gender, age, Charlson comorbidity index, polypharmacy, chronic pulmonary disease, admission to the intensive care unit, surgical treatment, and nasoenteral tube feeding. Magnitude of the associations was estimated by multiple Poisson regression. RESULTS: Among the 200 patients, the pneumonia incidence density was 13.04/1,000 person-days. For men and older people 80 years old or older, the pneumonia incidence density was 15.6/1,000 person-days and 18.3/1,000 person-days, respectively. After adjusting for age, gender, chronic pulmonary disease, and admission to the intensive care unit, use of nasoenteral tubes remained associated with occurrence of pneumonia in older people, and the risk of developing the infection was eight times higher in the population who received nasoenteral feeding than that calculated for the population that did not use the devices (p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: Using nasoenteral tubes during hospital stays increased the risk of developing pneumonia in hospitalized older people, which reinforces the need for continuous care monitoring regarding use of tubes to prevent complications.

Mental Health of Elderly Hypertensive Patients in Primary Health Care: An Integrative Review

Introduction: The global context highlights several challenges and manifestations stemming from population aging, among which mental health care for elderly people stands out. Primary health care (PHC), the largest gateway to Brazil's health care network, is strategic in promoting health and care, and in preventing diseases such as systemic arterial hypertension (SAH). It is known that elderly people with SAH present various symptoms of psychological distress and mental disorders that can aggravate cardiac symptoms. This can lead to health, social, and financial impacts on the lives of elderly people and their families. Objective: To identify the evidence on mental health care for hypertensive elderly people in PHC. Materials and methods: This is an integrative literature review; data was collected in January 2023 from the following databases: PubMed, BVS/Bireme, Medline, Lilacs, Cinahl, Scopus, and APA PsycINFO. The studies included were those available in full, in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, and which answered the research question elaborated following the PICo strategy. The article's search and selection processes were performed independently by two trained researchers through peer review. The Prisma guidelines were followed. Results: The studies found were published between 2008 and 2020 and showed two analysis categories: integrated care provided by the multi-professional team and measures that emphasize health-related quality of life. The studies highlighted integrated care management programs, qualification of the bond and territorialization, health measures that have an impact on psychological suffering, and group activities. Conclusions: Mental health care provided in an integrated and shared manner, combined with health activities and groups, is a powerful tool for elderly hypertensive patients in PHC. These strategies still have some challenges in certain contexts, but the review emphasizes the importance of consolidating this form of care, provided in PHC and has outcomes at all levels of care.

Introducción: el contexto mundial destaca diversos desafíos y manifestaciones del envejecimiento de la población, entre ellos la atención a la salud mental de los ancianos. La atención primaria de salud (APS), la mayor puerta de entrada a la red asistencial de Brasil, es estratégica en la promoción de la salud, el cuidado y la prevención de enfermedades como la hipertensión arterial sistémica (HSA). Se sabe que los ancianos con HSA presentan diversos síntomas de angustia psicológica, así como trastornos mentales que pueden agravar los síntomas cardíacos. Esto puede tener repercusiones sanitarias, sociales y económicas en la vida del anciano y su familia. Objetivo: Identificar las evidencias sobre la atención a la salud mental de los ancianos hipertensos en APS. Materiales y método: se trata de una revisión bibliográfica integradora; los datos se recogieron en enero de 2023 de las siguientes bases de datos: PubMed, BVS/Bireme, Medline, Lilacs, Cinahl, Scopus y APA PsycINFO. Se incluyeron estudios disponibles en su totalidad, en español, inglés y portugués, que respondieran a la pregunta de investigación elaborada a la luz de la estrategia PICo. La búsqueda y selección de artículos fue realizada de forma independiente por dos investigadores capacitados mediante revisión por pares. Se siguieron las recomendaciones Prisma. Resultados: los estudios encontrados fueron publicados entre 2008 y 2020, y mostraron dos categorías de análisis: atención integrada por el equipo multiprofesional y acciones que enfatizan la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Los estudios encontrados destacaron los programas de gestión integrada de la atención, la cualificación del vínculo y la territorialización, las acciones sanitarias que inciden en el sufrimiento psicológico y las actividades grupales. Conclusiones: la atención a la salud mental realizada de forma integrada y compartida, articulada con actividades y grupos de salud, es poderosa para los pacientes hipertensos ancianos en APS. Estas estrategias aún presentan algunos desafíos en algunos contextos, pero la revisión refuerza la importancia de consolidar esta atención, que se realiza en APS y tiene resultados en todos los niveles de atención.

Introdução: o contexto global evidencia diversos desafios e manifestações do envelhecimento populacional, dos quais destaca-se o cuidado em saúde mental da pessoa idosa. A atenção primária à saúde (APS), maior porta de entrada na rede de atenção à saúde do Brasil, é estratégica na promoção à saúde, ao cuidado e à prevenção de agravos, como a hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS). Sabe-se que a pessoa idosa com HAS manifesta diversos sintomas de sofrimento psíquico, bem como transtornos mentais que podem agudizar os sintomas cardíacos. Esse fato pode causar impactos de saúde, sociais e financeiros na vida da pessoa idosa e sua família. Objetivo: identificar as evidências sobre o cuidado em saúde mental ao idoso hipertenso na APS. Materiais e método: trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura; a coleta de dados ocorreu em janeiro de 2023, nas seguintes bases de dados: PubMed, BVS/Bireme, Medline, Lilacs, Cinahl, Scopus e APA PsycINFO. Incluíram-se estudos disponíveis na íntegra, em espanhol, inglês e português, que respondessem à questão de pesquisa elaborada à luz da estratégia PICo. A busca e a seleção dos artigos foram executadas por dois pesquisadores treinados, de modo independente, mediante discussão por pares. As recomendações do Prisma foram seguidas. Resultados: os estudos encontrados foram publicados de 2008 a 2020 e evidenciaram duas categorias de análise: cuidados integrados pela equipe multiprofissional e ações que enfatizam a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde. Destacaram-se nos estudos encontrados programas de gestão do cuidado integrado, qualificação do vínculo e territorialização, ações de saúde que impactam no sofrimento psíquico e atividades de grupo. Conclusões: o cuidado em saúde mental realizado de maneira integrada e compartilhada articulado com atividades de saúde e grupos são potentes para os idosos hipertensos na APS. Essas estratégias ainda apresentam alguns desafios em alguns contextos, no entanto a condução da revisão reforça a importância da consolidação desse cuidado, que acontece na APS e tem desfechos em todos os níveis de atenção.