Associação entre a fragilidade, capacidade funcional e estado nutricional em pessoas idosas assistidas ambulatorialmente em um serviço de saúde no nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

Introduction: Frailty is defined as a biological syndrome where the result is a progressive weakening of the immune system and resistance to various stressors that can lead to a worsening of the prognosis. Objective: investigate whether there is an association between frailty, functional capacity and nutritional status in elderly people treated at a nutrition outpatient clinic. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study, which is part of a larger project, with elderly people (>60 years old) treated at the UFBA Nutrition outpatient clinics. Data were collected from a previously standardized questionnaire by a trained team of nutritionists and undergraduate nutrition students. Results: 98 elderly people were evaluated, predominantly female (80%) and with a mean age of 72,72 ± 9,155 years. The majority received 1 to 3 minimum wages (86%), studied up to elementary school (51%), and had a single marital status (39%). The majority presented pre-frailty (65%) and eutrophy (39%). In relation to frail and non-frail individuals with functional capacity, the majority of frail individuals presented functional independence (73,9%), as did non-frail individuals (68%), with p=0,016. Conclusion: Frailty is related to weight loss, and therefore, frail patients may present inadequate nutritional status, in addition, weight loss may be related to dependence on daily activities.