Background
Multimorbidity is defined as the co-occurrence of multiple chronic or acute diseases and medical conditions in the same individual and can be grouped into different patterns based on the type of disease. These patterns are associated with poorer quality of life and premature death. It is believed that these patterns entail functional limitations, which may contribute to the fear of falling; however, this association remains unknown. Identifying this possible association is fundamental for developing individual and collective care approaches aimed at preventing the different patterns of chronic diseases in older adults in order to decrease the fear of falling. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between multimorbidity patterns and fear of falling in older adults.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study including 308 older adults. The exposure variables were the presence of three multimorbidity patterns (cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, and vascular-metabolic) and pattern association assessed by self-report of two or more similar coexisting chronic diseases. The outcome was fear of falling assessed by the Brazilian version of Falls Efficacy Scale-International (cut-off point ≥ 23 points). Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the association between variables.
Results
Older adults with cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, vascular-metabolic patterns and pattern association had 3.49 (95%CI 1.13; 10.78), 2.03 (95%CI 1.13; 3.64), 2.14 (95%CI 1.20; 3.82), and 4.84 (95%CI 2.19; 10.68), respectively, greater chances of presenting fear of falling when compared to older adults without the patterns.
Conclusions
The presence of multimorbidity patterns is associated with higher chances of reporting fear of falling. It is emphasized that the introduction of public health programs aimed at preventing multimorbidity patterns is essential to reduce possible adverse health outcomes, including fear of falling and its negative consequences for older adult health.
Alterações no sono são comuns em idosos e alguns fatores de risco podem agravar essa condição. Entender a associação do comportamento sedentário com o histórico de problemas de sono poderá auxiliar na elaboração de programas de intervenção. Verificar a associação entre tipologias do comportamento sedentário e histórico de problemas no sono em idosos comunitários brasileiros. Estudo transversal, com dados de 43.554 idosos participantes da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS), de 2019. As tipologias do comportamento sedentário foram avaliadas por: (1) tempo assistindo televisão; (2) atividades de lazer; e (3) tempo despendido total (televisão + lazer). O comportamento sedentário foi categorizado em < 3; 3-6 e > 6 horas/dia. O desfecho foi histórico de problemas de sono (dificuldade para adormecer, acordar frequentemente à noite ou dormir mais do que de costume) avaliados por meio do autorrelato nos últimos 15 dias. As associações foram verificadas pela regressão logística multivariável. Idosos que permaneceram tempo > 6 horas/dia em comportamento sedentário assistindo televisão tiveram 13% (OR = 1,13; IC95%: 1,02; 1,26) maiores probabilidades de relatarem problemas de sono. Referente ao comportamento sedentário total, idosos que permaneceram entre 3-6 horas e mais do que 6 horas/dia apresentaram 13% (OR = 1,13; IC95%: 1,04; 1,22) e 11% (OR = 1,11; IC95%: 1,01; 1,23) maiores probabilidades de problemas de sono, respectivamente. Os idosos amostrados que relataram permanecer por períodos superiores a 6 horas por dia em comportamento sedentário assistindo à televisão e > 3 horas em comportamento sedentário total tiveram maiores chances de terem problemas no sono. Estes achados podem contribuir nas orientações sobre a necessidade de redução no comportamento sedentário em idosos.
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