Anemia em pessoas idosas do estado de alagoas: fatores clínicos, sociodemográficos e físicosfuncionais

Abstract

Population aging has not always been synonymous with living well and healthy, since among older people the progression of chronic diseases is sometimes debilitating. They may live in longterm care institutions for the elderly (LTCF) or in a community, which covers all those whose fixed domicile is not LTCFs. In this context of aging, anemia has gained space for research due to its correlation with frequent pathologies in geriatrics. Anemia is a multifactorial condition where there is a reduction in hemoglobin (Hb) mass and its repercussions are usually more severe in this group. In order to contribute to the discussion of the problem, this dissertation presents the original article of a cross-sectional study whose objective was to evaluate the frequency and factors associated with anemia in the elderly living in the state of Alagoas. The sample was of a non-probabilistic nature for convenience of the macroproject I Diagnostico Alagoano de Saúde, Nutrição e Qualidade de Vida da Idosa. Elderly people of both sexes living in Alagoas were included. Sociodemographic and economic data, health conditions and lifestyle habits were collected through home visits, as well as physical-functional evaluations and blood samples were collected for the diagnosis of anemia (Hb level for sex and age) and the nutritional status of micronutrients (iron, cobalamin and folic acid) were described. Of the 1096 participants in the macroproject, 629 (57.40%) were eligible, 624 (99.20%) were included in this study after adopting the exclusion criteria, and of these, 15.20% (n = 95) were diagnosed with anemia, but no severe cases occurred, according to the international criteria of the World Health Organization. The sample consisted of 423 (67.80%) women, with a mean age of 71 years (±8.5 SD; Md: 70), predominantly black people (n = 474; 77.10%), with low schooling (n = 416; 68.8%). After regression analysis, anemia remained associated with age (OR = 1.06; p 0.02), inadequate calf circumference (OR = 4.29; p < 0.01) and iron kinetics (iron: OR = 2.45; p = 0.04; ferritin: OR = 5.28; p = 0.04). The findings corroborate the risk of anemia in the elderly and that it is associated with loss of autonomy and worse body and nutritional conditions in the group. The high prevalence also confirms the need to expand research on its occurrence, as well as the repercussions on the health of this population. Professionals, researchers and public entities engaged in the health and nutrition sectors are oriented towards an intersectoral movement for the joint development of actions to combat anemia in this age group.