Predicting dimensions of clinical-functional conditions and cognition in the elderly

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the predictive dimensions of clinical-functional conditions and the cognitive capacity of elderly people living at home. Method: Cross-sectional, population-based, analytical, quantitative study was utilized. For data collection, an instrument with sociodemographic and behavioral variables, the Functional Clinical Vulnerability Index; and, to assess cognition, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used. Descriptive analyzes and statistical tests were conducted. Results: 305 elderly subjects, living at home, in urban and rural areas participated in the study. They were classified as robust (71.8%), pre-frail (22%) and frail (6.2%). As for cognition, 24.9% of them had cognitive impairment. It was shown that cognitive impairment predicts the development of functional disability. Conclusion: It is considered that health professionals should both act in order to maintain the functional and cognitive conditions of the robust and pre-frail elderly people and pay attention to the rehabilitation of the disabilities installed in those elderly people who are in a situation of frailty.

摘要 目的：评估居家老年人群的临床功能状态与认知能力的预测维度。方法：本研究采用基于人群的横断面分析性定量研究设计。数据收集阶段采用两类工具：一类为涵盖社会人口学与行为变量的功能临床脆弱性指数（Functional Clinical Vulnerability Index），另一类为用于认知评估的简易精神状态检查（Mini-Mental State Examination，MMSE）；后续开展了描述性分析与统计学检验。结果：本研究共纳入305名居住于城乡居家环境的老年受试者，依据衰弱状态可分为三类：体质强健者占71.8%、衰弱前期者占22%、衰弱者占6.2%；认知评估结果显示，24.9%的受试者存在认知损害。研究证实认知损害可预测功能残疾的发生。结论：本研究认为，卫生专业人员应开展两方面工作：一是采取干预措施维持强健及衰弱前期老年群体的功能与认知状态，二是关注衰弱老年人群已出现的残疾康复问题。