OBJECTIVES: To describe the sociodemographic variables and to identify the health conditions of elderly women enrolled in the Family Health Program in Maceio city, Brazil. METHODS: The study is a descriptive, transversal and random sampling, using socio-demographic and health conditions variables. To evaluate the nutritional status were used: body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Depression was evaluated using the GDS-30, functional capacity for means of the Lawton scale and to assess the physical activity level the IPAQ short version. RESULTS: The sample of the study was composed of 268 women with the average age of 66.68 ± 5.77 years, being 70,5% from 60-69 years old. In this sample 35.1% lived with their spouse and 48.5% lived on less than minimum salary; 60.1% of the elderly reported one to two morbidities, being hypertension the most frequent (84.0%). Prevalence of obesity was 21.6% while 25.7% of the sample was underweight and 67.9% have WC ≥ 80cm; 41.0% were suspected of having mild or moderate depression, 12.7% showed partial dependence to instrumental activities of daily living and 50.7% were sedentary. CONCLUSIONS: We expect that these findings will contribute to a better quantification of needs of this population, providing information to public policies. In addition, it may promote actions to ensure that those aged 60 years or more can live with dignity and quality of life.
Elderly Health; Aging; Health profile; Nutritional status; Family Health Program
