Functional independence level of elderly people with Alzheimers disease / Nível de independência funcional de idosos com Doença de Alzheimer

AUTOR(ES)

Luana Flávia da Silva Talmelli

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

Functional capacity emerges as a new concept in elderly health, mainly with respect to elderly people with Alzheimers disease (AD), when a cognitive deficit is expected, connected with a functional deficit. Thus, research on functional capacity in elderly people with AD is relevant for elderly care delivery. This observational, crosssectional study aimed to identify co-morbidities of elderly people with AD, to measure the functional independence level according to the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), in comparison with the dementia staging according to the Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR). The sample consisted of 67 elderly. Data were collected during interviews at the elderlys home, using an identification and sociodemographic profile instrument, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to assess cognitive deficit; the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) for functional assessment, and CDR to asses dementia staging. The mean age was 79 years (+ 7.2), with 41.8% between 75 and 79 years old. Women 77.6% and widowed people 49.3% were predominant. The elderlys mean education level was 5.6 years, 73.1% gained their own income, 46.3% gained a family income of up to 5 minimum wages and lived with an average of 3.5 people. As to existing co-morbidities, 23.9 had none and 53.7% had arterial hypertension. The cognitive deficit was 82% and the mean MMSE score 9.3. In dementia staging, 46.3% presented severe, 22.4%% moderate and 31.3% light dementia. With respect to functionality, the variation in FIM scores was equal to the possible variation for motor FIM. The mean global general FIM score was 71.1, the mean global FIM scores were 107.9 for light; 84.5 for moderate and 39.7 for severe dementia. Elderly with light dementia displayed modified independence or needed supervision; those with moderate dementia showed minimal dependence or supervision and elderly with severe dementia were fully dependent. A strong correlation was found between the functional independence level (global FIM) and dementia stage and with cognitive performance (p<0.001). No statistically significant correlations were found between functionality and age, gender and presence of co-morbidities. It was concluded that the functional capacity of elderly people with AD is related with the stage of dementia, that is, the more severe the dementia, the higher the level of dependence will be.

ASSUNTO(S)

dementia atividades cotidianas avaliação clínica da demência. aged doença de alzheimer activity of daily living clinical dementia rating scale. demência idosos alzheimer disease functional independence measure medida de independência funcional

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