RESUMEN
Data from the Gurabo census of the elderly, 1987-1988 (n = 1890)were analyzed to determine the prevalence rates for cognitive and functional impairment in that population. Besides socio-demographic questions, the census questionnaire included the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire to determine cognitive dysfunction, and the modified Katz Scale to detect functional impairment. The overall prevalence rates were 18.5 percent and 18.4 percent for cognitive and functional dysfunction respectively. After multiple logistic regression analysis, cognitive impairment was found to be associated with poor education (OR = 4.0, CI = 2.31-6.93), older age (OR = 2.67, C.I. = 2.00-3.58), functional decline (OR = 2.44, C.I. = 1.83-3.25), female sex (OR = 1.82, C.I. = 1.39-2.40) and low income (OR = 1.49, C.I. = 113-1.98). Functional impairment was found to be associated with cognitive dysfunction (OR = 2.45, C.I. = 1.84-3.27) and older age (OR = 2.08, C.I.-1.59 = 2,72). These findings suggest that a substantial proportion of the elderly in Puerto Rico may require assistance to deal with the consequences of these impairments
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Femenino , Anciano , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Actividades Cotidianas , Trastornos del Conocimiento , Evaluación Geriátrica , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Trastornos del Conocimiento/diagnóstico , Modelos Logísticos , Escala del Estado Mental , Vigilancia de la Población , Prevalencia , Puerto Rico , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Oportunidad Relativa , Factores de Riesgo , Salud Rural , Factores SocioeconómicosRESUMEN
This is a prospective study that explores the role of functional impairment as predictor of one-year mortality in the elderly of rural Puerto Rico. Between September, 1987 and June 1988, 1901 elderly were interviewed at their place of residence. Besides obtaining social and demographic information, assessment of functional status using a modified Katz scale and determination of mental status using the Short Portable Mental Status questionnaire were performed. During the one-year follow-up period 43 participants died. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of functional (OR = 5.31) and mental impairment (OR = 2.22) were independent predictors of mortality when adjusted for age, education, gender and income. These findings are consistent with those of other studies, where the presence of functional and mental impairment, detected on admission to a hospital or while living in the community, were associated to a higher mortality