ABSTRACT
It aims to investigate the prevalence of frailty in a long-lived population. Observational and cross-sectional study with elderly people over 80 years old in a municipality of the Southern region of Brazil. Frailty syndrome was identified according to Fried et al. (2001)FRIED, L. P. et al. Frailty in older adults: evidence for a phenotype. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Washington, DC, v. 56, n. 3, p. 146-156, 2001.. Among the 69 elderly, 58% was frail and 42% was pre-frail, with higher frequency of slowing of gait speed, weight loss and fatigue. It is evident that the frailty is installed in long-lived elderlies, therefore, evaluating and classifying the elderly according to a frailty makes it possible to organize care priorities, with the aim of preventing, maintaining and/or restoring functional capacity.
KEYWORDS
Aged, 80 and over; Frail elderly; Aging