Factors associated with negative self-assessment of health in elderly enrolled in Primary Care Units

Abstract

Introduction: The self-assessment of health might be considered a significant and independent predictor of physical function, morbidity and mortality in older adults. Objective: To verify the association between sociodemographic, health and physical functional data with negative self-assessment of health in elderly. Methods: Cross-sectional study, with a stratified sampling of communitydwelling from Diamantina (MG), Brazil. To evaluate the AANS and sociodemographic, health and functional variables Questionnaire the Brazil Old Age Schedule (BOAS). The Timed up & go test and the Functional Reach test were performed to assess physical function and risk of falls, respectively. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the univariate associations (p≤0.20). Multiple logistic regression models were created to identify the adjusted associated factors (p≤0.05). Results: 401 older adults participated in this study. The variables that showed a significant association with the negative selfassessment of health were: 80 years or more (OR=1.81; IC95%=1.06-3.08), insufficient financial resource (OR=2.43; IC95%=1.55-3.78), history of falls (OR=3.24; IC95%=1.71-6.14), hypertension (OR=3.27;IC95%=1.37-7.81), neurological disease (OR=2.36; IC95%=1.18-4.71), osteomioarticular disease (OR=2.18; IC95%=1.26-3.78), depression (OR=3.87; IC95%=1.88-7.75), time of disease > 12 years (OR=2.13; IC95%=1.12-4.03), use of dental prosthesis (OR=0.50; IC95%=0.28-0.89), time ≥ 10 seconds to perform the Timed up & go (OR=2.54; IC95%=1.62-3.10), disability in two or more activities of daily living (OR=1.86; IC95%= 1.17-2.95) and self-report of less energy (OR=2.60; IC95%=1.57-4.31). Conclusion: The negative self-assessment of health was associated with sociodemographic, health and physical function factors, indicating the need of a comprehensive health care for this population.