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Prevalence of dependency and associated risk factors in the elderly

OBJECTIVE: To verify the prevalence of dependence among elderly assisted by teams of the Family Health Strategy in the city of Cuiabá (MT) and the associated risk factors. METHODS: A study with a transversal design, of the survey type. The study sample was of 352 elderly with data collection conducted in their homes between the months of June and September of 2010, using the Katz Index questionnaire and the Lawton and Brody Scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of dependency among the elderly was 38.6%. The statistical analysis showed that the sociodemographic characteristics and health were significantly associated with dependence, and there were several levels of prevalence rates of dependence among the elderly. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dependency of 38.6% identified among the elderly study participants was higher than that reported in similar studies and suggests that this dependence results from the influence of the sociodemographic characteristics and health presented by these elderly.

Disabled persons; Geriatric assessment; Health of the elderly; Frail elderly; Risk factors


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