Frailty and quality of life in elderly primary health care users - Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem

Frailty and quality of life in elderly primary health care users |

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to investigate the association between physical frailty and quality of life in elderly users of primary health care in the capital of the state of Paraná.

Method:

a cross-sectional, quantitative study with 203 elders. Data collected included: physical activity questionnaires, weight loss, fatigue/exhaustion, quality of life, performance of gait speed tests, and handgrip strength.

Results:

of the 203 older adults, 115 were pre-frail, 49 were non-frail, and 39 were frail, with a significant association with functional capacity and quality of life in all groups. The dimensions resulting from physical aspects, pain, and vitality were associated with those that were non-frail.

Conclusion:

in this study, frailty syndrome was inversely proportional to the quality of life, and significantly associated with functional capacity of older adults. Physical frailty is a manageable condition which can be targeted through geriatric nursing interventions.