Prevalencia y perfil de la persona frágil en la isla de La Palma / Prevalence and profile of the frail population in La Palma, Canary Islands

Introducción: El envejecimiento poblacional requiere que los sistemas sanitarios y sociales centren su atención en la identificación de la fragilidad en los ancianos. En Canarias, no existen estudios que determinen la prevalencia de fragilidad en su población. El objetivo del presente estudio es determinar la prevalencia y perfil de fragilidad en la isla de La Palma (Islas Canarias, España). Material y método: Estudio transversal para estimar la prevalencia y el perfil de la fragilidad. La muestra estuvo formada por residentes mayores de 70 años, valorados mediante los criterios de Fried, considerando otros factores relacionados. La prevalencia se ofrece en intervalo de confianza al 95% y se compara con la de otras poblaciones españolas. Para determinar el perfil se realizaron comparaciones simples de las variables, usadas posteriormente en modelos de regresión logística. Todas las pruebas fueron bilaterales a un nivel p ≤ 0,05. Resultados: La prevalencia de fragilidad en personas mayores de 70 años se estimó en un 20% (17-23%). Esta prevalencia muestra diferencias con las de otras poblaciones españolas. Los factores que mostraron asociación con la fragilidad fueron el ser mujer, estar viudo, vivir solo, baja actividad física, deterioro cognitivo, depresión, polimedicación y antecedentes clínicos adversos. El análisis multivariable identifica como asociadas a la fragilidad variables relacionadas con el estado civil, la convivencia, la polifarmacia, los estados depresivos y la falta de ejercicio físico. Conclusiones: Los ancianos de La Palma presentan mayor fragilidad en comparación con la descrita en otras regiones de España; su perfil es el de una persona viuda, con depresión, polimedicada, que vive sola y no realiza ejercicio

Introduction: Population ageing requires that health and social systems focus their attention on identifying frailty in the elderly. In the Canary Islands, there are no studies to determine the prevalence of frailty among its population. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and profile of frailty in the island of La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. Material and method: A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and the profile of frailty. The sample were residents over 70 years old, valued by the Fried criteria, and taking into account other related factors. The prevalence is offered with a confidence interval of 95% and is compared with that of other Spanish populations. To determine the profile, a simple comparison of variables was made, followed by using them in logistic regression models. All the tests were bilateral at a P≤0.05 level. Results: The prevalence of frailty in people over 70 years was estimated at 20% (17-23%). This prevalence shows differences with those of other Spanish populations. The factors that showed a relationship with frailty were, being female, widowed, living alone, low physical activity, cognitive impairment, depression, polymedication, and adverse clinical history. Multivariate analysis identifies factors associated with the frailty variables related to marital status, co-existence, polypharmacy, depressive states, and lack of physical exercise. Conclusions: The elderly population of La Palma have greater frailty compared to that described in other regions of Spain, with their profile being that of a widowed person, with depression, polymedicated, living alone, and not exercising

[Prevalence and profile of the frail population in La Palma, Canary Islands]. / Prevalencia y perfil de la persona frágil en la isla de La Palma.

INTRODUCTION: Population ageing requires that health and social systems focus their attention on identifying frailty in the elderly. In the Canary Islands, there are no studies to determine the prevalence of frailty among its population. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and profile of frailty in the island of La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and the profile of frailty. The sample were residents over 70 years old, valued by the Fried criteria, and taking into account other related factors. The prevalence is offered with a confidence interval of 95% and is compared with that of other Spanish populations. To determine the profile, a simple comparison of variables was made, followed by using them in logistic regression models. All the tests were bilateral at a P≤0.05 level. RESULTS: The prevalence of frailty in people over 70 years was estimated at 20% (17-23%). This prevalence shows differences with those of other Spanish populations. The factors that showed a relationship with frailty were, being female, widowed, living alone, low physical activity, cognitive impairment, depression, polymedication, and adverse clinical history. Multivariate analysis identifies factors associated with the frailty variables related to marital status, co-existence, polypharmacy, depressive states, and lack of physical exercise. CONCLUSIONS: The elderly population of La Palma have greater frailty compared to that described in other regions of Spain, with their profile being that of a widowed person, with depression, polymedicated, living alone, and not exercising.