Association between morphophysiological and functional characteristics with activities of daily living in elderly women participating in community programs in the city of Curitiba, PR

Abstract

Objective: to examine the association between the performance of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and level of physical activity, physical and functional fi tness in elderly women. Methods: The sample was composed of 1,069 women, (?60 years). Socioeconomic status, physical activity level, and activities of daily living were determined by questionnaires, while physical and functional fi tness were assessed through body composition, cardiorespiratory assessment and motor ability. Descriptive values, ANOVA one way, Tukey post hoc, Pearson correlation, and logistic regression analysis (p<0.05) were employed. Results: According to the anthropometric analysis it was verifi ed that older women exhibited lower body adiposity, mainly in the upper body, when compared with women at a younger age group. The younger women exhibited a higher level of physical activity, in the total, domestic and sport categories, when compared with older women. A similar relationship was observed in the performance of all physical and functional fi tness variables. Furthermore, when comparing dependence and loss of independence by age (from younger to older women) it was perceived that dependence increased with age. This relationship was confi rmed through logistic regression analysis, where age was demonstrated of being predictive of dependence or the loss of independence (p=0.016 and, p<0.001, respectively), indicating that aging increases women’s risk of losing their independence. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that exercise/physical activity level was a strong predictor for ADLs (lower group OR 1.91 CI 95% 1.17-3.12; p=0.009, when compared with the upper group). In the multivariate analysis, level of physical activity (lower group OR = 2.96; CI 95% 2.04-4.29; p<0.001 and medium group 2 OR = 1.86; CI 95% 1.30-2.65; p=0.001, when compared with the upper group), and maximum upper body strength (lower group OR = 1.91; CI 95% 1.21-2.99; p<0.005, when compared with the upper group) were predictors of IADLs. Conclusion: The aging process, undoubtedly, causes a decrease in independence, and this being so, it is expected that subjects suffer a decrease of their physical and functional capacities. The maintenance of an elevated level of physical activity, but mainly regular exercise could sustain independence for a longer period of time. It is suggested that public health initiatives be planned with the objective of maintaining health, independent living, and consequently a satisfactory quality of life for the elderly. Therefore, it can be suggested that intervention programs that promote regular physical activity with careful planning and control should be offered for this population.