[Health promotion and disease prevention for active aging that preserves quality of life]. / Promoción de la salud y prevención de las enfermedades para un envejecimiento activo y con calidad de vida.

Older adults represent a growing population whose health status depends on many factors, including physical, cognitive, and social factors, as well as family. They also have features including heterogeneity, a high disease burden, and comorbidities that affect the family and social spheres. It is important to offer the older adult population methods to exercise better control over their health and, thus, improve it. The goal is to achieve successful aging, that is, aging without disabilities, with the fewest possible or adequately controlled ailments while helping them maintain their autonomy and quality of life and always respecting their values and preferences. On the other hand, preventive activities in older adults consider the risk of disease; functional alteration causing the disease; and conditions common to the elderly that can damage their health, including frailty, falls, and iatrogenic complications. Preventive activities for the elderly should consider all of these factors. Here we present some guidelines that may be important for promoting active aging as well as preventive activities that can be used according to each person's individual situation.

[Usefulness of the comprehensive geriatric assessment for evaluating the health of older adults]. / Utilidad de la valoración geriátrica integral en la evaluación de la salud del adulto mayor.

Older adults comprise a heterogeneous population group that usually has a high disease burden, comorbidities, and, in many cases, subclinical conditions that compromise their health and quality of life. In addition to the physical component, the health conditions of elderly individuals are significantly influenced by cognitive and affective components, social and family factors such as abandonment, and functional factors including the ability to perform everyday activities. In response to this complex scenario, the comprehensive geriatric evaluation constitutes a multidimensional and interdisciplinary diagnostic tool that assesses the health of older adults in all of its complexity by considering the physical, mental, social/family, and functional needs to obtain full knowledge of older person's health status and creating a plan that consists of appropriate and individualized interventions that considers the preferences and values of older individuals and their families.

Promoción de la salud y prevención de las enfermedades para un envejecimiento activo y con calidad de vida / Health promotion and disease prevention for active aging that preserves quality of life

RESUMEN Los adultos mayores representan un grupo poblacional en incremento, su estado de salud depende de muchos factores como el físico, cognoscitivo y sociofamiliar; por otro lado, tienen características como la heterogeneidad, la gran carga de enfermedad, la pluripatología, entre otras, que repercuten no solo en el ámbito familiar sino social. Es importante ofrecer a la población adulta mayor los medios para ejercer un mejor control sobre su salud y mejorarla. Todo ello con el fin de lograr un envejecimiento exitoso, es decir, sin discapacidad, con la menor cantidad de enfermedades posibles o adecuadamente controladas y, sobre todo, intentando mantener en todo momento su autonomía y calidad de vida, respetando siempre sus valores y preferencias. Por otro lado, las actividades preventivas en los adultos mayores deben tener en cuenta no solo el riesgo de enfermedad, sino también la alteración de la función que produce la enfermedad, así como aquellas condiciones frecuentes en el adulto mayor que pueden deteriorar su estado de salud como la fragilidad, las caídas, y las complicaciones iatrogénicas; las actividades preventivas en el adulto mayor deben estar dirigidas a todos estos factores. Presentamos algunas pautas que podrían ser importantes para promover un envejecimiento activo y actividades preventivas que podrán ser aplicadas según el contexto particular de cada persona.

ABSTRACT Older adults represent a growing population whose health status depends on many factors, including physical, cognitive, and social factors, as well as family. They also have features including heterogeneity, a high disease burden, and comorbidities that affect the family and social spheres. It is important to offer the older adult population methods to exercise better control over their health and, thus, improve it. The goal is to achieve successful aging, that is, aging without disabilities, with the fewest possible or adequately controlled ailments while helping them maintain their autonomy and quality of life and always respecting their values and preferences. On the other hand, preventive activities in older adults consider the risk of disease; functional alteration causing the disease; and conditions common to the elderly that can damage their health, including frailty, falls, and iatrogenic complications. Preventive activities for the elderly should consider all of these factors. Here we present some guidelines that may be important for promoting active aging as well as preventive activities that can be used according to each person's individual situation.

Utilidad de la valoración geriátrica integral en la evaluación de la salud del adulto mayor / Usefulness of the comprehensive geriatric assessment for evaluating the health of older adults

RESUMEN Los adultos mayores conforman un grupo poblacional heterogéneo que, usualmente, presenta una gran carga de enfermedad, pluripatología y, en muchas ocasiones, condiciones subclínicas que comprometen su salud y calidad de vida. Además del componente físico, la salud de los adultos mayores está influenciada, de manera importante, por factores mentales, que incluyen componentes cognitivos y afectivos; factores sociofamiliares, como el abandono; y factores funcionales, como la capacidad para realizar las actividades cotidianas. En respuesta a este escenario complejo, la valoración geriátrica integral se constituye en una herramienta diagnóstica, multidimensional e interdisciplinaria, cuya característica es evaluar la salud del adulto mayor en toda su complejidad, es decir, toma en consideración los aspectos físicos, mentales, sociofamiliares y funcionales para tener un conocimiento completo del estado de salud de la persona mayor y, de esta manera, realizar un plan de trabajo con intervenciones apropiadas e individualizadas, tomando en cuenta sus preferencias, sus valores y los de la familia.

ABSTRACT Older adults comprise a heterogeneous population group that usually has a high disease burden, comorbidities, and, in many cases, subclinical conditions that compromise their health and quality of life. In addition to the physical component, the health conditions of elderly individuals are significantly influenced by cognitive and affective components, social and family factors such as abandonment, and functional factors including the ability to perform everyday activities. In response to this complex scenario, the comprehensive geriatric evaluation constitutes a multidimensional and interdisciplinary diagnostic tool that assesses the health of older adults in all of its complexity by considering the physical, mental, social/family, and functional needs to obtain full knowledge of older person's health status and creating a plan that consists of appropriate and individualized interventions that considers the preferences and values of older individuals and their families.

Investigaciones científicas en Geriatría y Gerontología en el Perú, 2002-2013 / Scientific researches in Geriatrics and Gerontology in Peru, 2002-2013

Describir el estado y las características de la investigación en Geriatría y Gerontología realizada en el Perú y su evolución en la última década. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, bibliométrico de tesis y publicaciones en Geriatría y Gerontología realizadas a nivel nacional desde el 2002 al 2013. Se utilizó una metodología de búsqueda mediante el uso de palabras clave en base de datos de universidades, en REPEBIS, LILACS, SciELO y PubMed incluyendo las investigaciones que cumplían el rigor de un estudio científico. Resultados: Se identificaron 399 investigaciones, 104 (26%) de Gerontología y 295 (74%) de Geriatría. El 71% de los trabajos se realizó en la ciudad de Lima seguido por Arequipa (7%) y Trujillo (5%). La mayoría fueron descriptivos (88%), de corte transversal (77,2%) y realizados en escenarios hospitalarios (57,1%). El área social (15%) fue el tema gerontológico más estudiado y el de servicios geriátricos (7,5%) lo fue en el área geriátrica. El 28,6% de las investigaciones se publicaron en revistas biomédicas, de las cuales 82,5% fueron relativos al área de geriatría y 17,5% del área de gerontología (p=0,01) y fueron desarrollados en ámbitos de servicios de salud en 71,9% vs 28,1% en comunidad (p=0,006). Conclusiones: Las investigaciones en Geriatría y Gerontología en el Perú son en su mayoría descriptivas de corte transversal y del área de geriatría. En la última década hay un incremento en la publicación en revistas biomédicas...

To describe the status and characteristics of scientific research in Geriatrics and Gerontology performed in Peru and to evaluate its trend during the last decade. Methods: A descriptive study was carried-out in which a systematic search using specific keywords of investigations that followed rigorous scientific standards was performed in data bases including REPEBIS, LILACS, SciELO and PubMed. Results: 399 investigations were found; 104 (26%) in Gerontology and 295 (74%) in Geriatrics; 71% were performed in Lima followed by Arequipa (7%) and Trujillo (5%). Most of the studies were descriptive (88%); 77.2% of these studies were cross-sectional and 57.1% were carried-out in hospitals. Social issues were the most common topic covered: 15% in Gerontology and 7.5% in Geriatrics; 28.6% of the investigations were published in biomedical journals, of which 82.5% were in Geriatrics and 17.5% in Gerontology (p=0.01), and were carried-out more commonly in health care centers (71.9%) vs. in the community (28.1%), p=0.006. Conclusions: Scientific investigations in Geriatrics and Gerontology in Peru are mostly descriptive cross-sectional studies. There has been an increase in publications in biomedical journals during the last decade...

Perfil clínico, funcional y sociofamiliar del adulto mayor de la comunidad en un distrito de Lima, Perú / Clinical, functional and older socio-familiar profile of the community in a district of Lima, Peru

Determinar el perfil clínico, funcional y sociofamiliar de los adultos mayores de la comunidad en un distrito de Lima, Perú. Materiales y métodos. Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal de una muestra de 501 personas mayores de 60 años que viven en el distrito de San Martin de Porres. Se aplicó un cuestionario estructurado en el que se registraron variables clínicas, funcionales y sociofamiliares, se realizó una evaluación física para la evaluación de medidas basadas en la ejecución y se tomaron muestras séricas para estudio hematológico y bioquímico. Los datos se presentaron mediante estadísticas descriptivas como frecuencias y porcentajes para las variables categóricas así como medias y desviación estándar para las numéricas. Resultados. Se evaluaron un total de 501 adultos mayores. La media de la edad fue de 71,5 años (± 8,9 años), la enfermedad crónica más frecuente fue hipertensión arterial en 40,9%, seguido por las enfermedades reumatológicas con 36,9%; un 27,7% tuvo algún grado de dependencia parcial o total en las actividades de la vida diaria, 16,2% presentaron deterioro cognitivo, 8% vivían solos, 58,5% tuvieron riesgo o problema social. La autopercepción de la salud fue regular en el 61% y mala o muy mala en 16%. Conclusiones. Los adultos mayores de la comunidad de San Martín de Porres en Lima presentan frecuentes problemas de dependencia funcional, riesgo o problema social, enfermedades crónicas y una alta frecuencia de síndromes y problemas geriátricos...

To determine the clinical, functional and socio-familiar profile of seniors from a community in a district of Lima, Peru. Materials and methods. Descriptive cross-sectional study of a sample of 501 people aged 60 and over living in the San Martin de Porres district. We used a structured questionnaire in which clinical, functional and socio-familiar variables were recorded. A physical evaluation was carried out to assess performance based measures and serum samples were taken for hematological and biochemical examination. The data were presented with descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages for categorical variables and means and standard deviations for the numeric variables. Results. A total of 501 older adults were evaluated. The mean age was 71.5 years (±8.9 years). The most common chronic disease was arterial hypertension at 40.9%, followed by rheumatic diseases with 36.9%. 27.7% had some degree of partial or total dependence in activities of daily living, 16.2% had cognitive impairment, 8% lived alone, 58.5% had or were at risk of having a social problem.61% self-rated their health as normal, while 16% rated it as bad or very bad. Conclusions. Seniors in the community of San Martin de Porres in Lima have frequent problems of functional dependence, have or are at risk of social problems, chronic illness and a high frequency of geriatric syndromes and problems...

[Clinical, functional and older socio-familiar profile of the community in a district of Lima, Peru]. / Perfil clínico, funcional y sociofamiliar del adulto mayor de la comunidad en un distrito de Lima, Perú.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical, functional and socio-familiar profile of seniors from a community in a district of Lima, Peru. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study of a sample of 501 people aged 60 and over living in the San Martin de Porres district. We used a structured questionnaire in which clinical, functional and socio-familiar variables were recorded. A physical evaluation was carried out to assess performance based measures and serum samples were taken for hematological and biochemical examination. The data were presented with descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages for categorical variables and means and standard deviations for the numeric variables. RESULTS: A total of 501 older adults were evaluated. The mean age was 71.5 years (±8.9 years). The most common chronic disease was arterial hypertension at 40.9%, followed by rheumatic diseases with 36.9%. 27.7% had some degree of partial or total dependence in activities of daily living, 16.2% had cognitive impairment, 8% lived alone, 58.5% had or were at risk of having a social problem.61% self-rated their health as normal, while 16% rated it as bad or very bad. CONCLUSIONS: Seniors in the community of San Martin de Porres in Lima have frequent problems of functional dependence, have or are at risk of social problems, chronic illness and a high frequency of geriatric syndromes and problems.