Behavior of fragility, polypharmacy and self-validism in the elderly-quality of life

• Main Author: Yusimi Hernandez Chacon
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: ECIMED 2019-07-01
• Series: Revista de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río
• Subjects: fragilidad; calidad de vida; anciano; nonagenarios; polifarmacia.
• Online Access: http://www.revcmpinar.sld.cu/index.php/publicaciones/article/view/3991

Introduction: the ageing of the population, one of the greatest triumphs of humanity and also one of the greatest challenges to which the province of Pinar del Río is not unaware. Objective: to evaluate the behavior of fragility, polypharmacy, and self-validism in the elderly-quality of life admitted to Dr. Leon Cuervo Rubio de Pinar del Rio Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital during the years 2016 and 2017. Methods: it was a descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional study in a group of older people admitted to the chosen provincial hospital, the target group comprised 673 patients and the sample 642 admitted during the period covered, who met the inclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics and absolute and relative percentage frequencies were applied. Results: male gender predominated; the age group that stood out was 90-94 years. The highest percentage of nonagenarians were fragile, and a small part independent for the performance of activities of daily living, most of them requiring frequently assistance. Polypharmacy proved to be a real problem in longevity. All the criteria evaluated had a negative impact on the quality of life of the longevos, medium rate over the high category predominated. Conclusions: it was demonstrated that the existing relationship among fragility, polypharmacy and self-validism as determinants had a direct impact on the assessment of the quality of life of longevos.