This is an integrated literature review intended to get to know the Brazilian scientific production regarding the functional capacity of the elderly. BDENF, LILACS, MEDLINE and SciELO databases were consulted in the sampling period from January, 2001, to September, 2010. Eight articles were selected with nursing professionals (4) as the main authors of such publications. Publication year of the articles is between 2006 and 2010, with predomination of quantitative research focused on the multidimensionality of the elderly. Questionnaires and scales were used to assess the functional capacity of the elderly and constraining factors for its performance were also indicated. Scientific studies on the theme are incipient, which evidences the need for further research aiming to improve the quality of life of the elderly.

Submission: 04-13-2015Approval: 12-01-2015 ABSTRACT Objective: to investigate the association between physical frailty and quality of life in elderly users of primary health care in the capital of the state of Paraná. Method: a cross-sectional, quantitative study with 203 elders. Data collected included: physical activity questionnaires, weight loss, fatigue/exhaustion, quality of life, performance of gait speed tests, and handgrip strength. Results: of the 203 older adults, 115 were pre-frail, 49 were non-frail, and 39 were frail, with a signifi cant association with functional capacity and quality of life in all groups. The dimensions resulting from physical aspects, pain, and vitality were associated with those that were non-frail. Conclusion: in this study, frailty syndrome was inversely proportional to the quality of life, and signifi cantly associated with functional capacity of older adults. Physical frailty is a manageable condition which can be targeted through geriatric nursing interventions. Descriptors: Aged; Frail Elderly; Quality of Life; Primary Health Care; Geriatric Nursing. RESUMO Objetivo: investigar a associação entre fragilidade física e qualidade de vida de idosos usuários da atenção básica de saúde da capital paranaense. Método: estudo quantitativo transversal realizado com 203 idosos. Os dados foram coletados mediante questionários de nível de atividade física, perda de peso, fadiga/exaustão, qualidade de vida e realização de testes de velocidade da marcha e força de preensão manual. Resultados: dos 203 idosos, 115 eram pré-frágeis, 49 não frágeis, 39 frágeis, havendo em todos os grupos associação signifi cativa para a dimensão capacidade funcional da qualidade de vida. As dimensões limitações por aspectos físicos, dor e vitalidade foram associadas aos não frágeis. Conclusão: no presente estudo, a síndrome da fragilidade se mostrou inversamente proporcional à qualidade de vida e associada signifi cativamente à capacidade funcional dos idosos. Entende-se que a fragilidade física é uma condição gerenciável e pode ser alvejada por meio de intervenções da enfermagem gerontológica. Descritores: Idoso; Idoso Fragilizado; Qualidade de Vida; Atenção Primária à Saúde; Enfermagem Geriátrica. RESUMEN Objetivo: investigar la relación entre fragilidad física y calidad de vida de ancianos usuarios de la atención primaria de salud en la capital del estado. Método: estudio cuantitativo transversal con 203 ancianos. Los datos se recoletaron a través de cuestionarios de actividad física, pérdida de peso, fatiga/agotamiento, calidad de vida y pruebas de velocidad de marcha y fuerza de prensión. Resultados: de los 203 ancianos, 115 eran pre-frágiles, 49 no frágiles, 39 frágiles, con asociación signifi cativa de la dimensión capacidad funcional de la calidad de vida en todos los grupos. Las dimensiones limitaciones por "aspectos físicos", "dolor" y "vitalidad" se asociaron con aquellos no frágiles. Conclusión: en este estudio, el síndrome de fragilidad era inversamente proporcional a la calidad de vida y sign...

Objective:To investigate the association between handgrip strength (HS) and physical activity in physical frailty elderly. Method: Cross-sectional quantitative study with a sample of 203 elderly calculated based on the population estimated proportion. Tests were applied to detect cognitive impairment and assessment of physical frailty. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis by binary logistic regression were used, and also Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test. Results: A total of 99 (64.3%) elderly showed decreased handgrip strength and 90 (58.4%) elderly presented decrease in physical activity levels. There was a statistically significant difference between these two components (p=0.019), in which elderly who have decreased HS have lower levels of physical activity. For low levels of physical activity and decreased HS, there was no evidence of significant difference in the probability of the classification as frail elderly (p<0.001). Conclusion: The components handgrip strength and physical activity are associated with the frail elderly. The joint presence of low levels of physical activity and decreased handgrip strength leads to a significantly higher probability of the elderly to be categorized as frailty.

RESUMO: Pesquisa transversal com o objetivo de investigar a associação entre fatores sociodemográficos e clínicos e os componentes força de preensão manual e velocidade da marcha em idosos longevos. A amostra contemplou 243 longevos, de três Unidades Básicas de Saúde de Curitiba, Paraná, entre janeiro de 2013 e setembro de 2015. Identificou-se associação significativa entre força de preensão manual e sexo (p=0,001), idade (p=0,001), estado civil (p=0,001), moradia (p=0,001), quedas no último ano (p=0,03), perda de urina (p=0,001), uso de bengala (p=0,001) e andador (p=0,001). A velocidade da marcha apresentou associação com sexo (p=0,001), idade (p=0,001), estado civil (p=0,001), moradia (p=0,001), quedas no último ano (p=0,03), perda de urina (p=0,001), uso de bengala (p=0,001) e andador (p=0,001). Destaca-se que a avaliação da força de preensão manual e velocidade da marcha auxiliam na identificação de alterações funcionais em longevos e constitui-se como parte fundamental na gestão da síndrome da fragilidade física. DESCRITORES: Idoso fragilizado; Força da mão; Marcha; Enfermagem geriátrica. FATORES SOCIODEMOGRÁFICOS E CLÍNICOS ASSOCIADOS SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HAND GRIP STRENGTH AND GAIT SPEED IN LONG-LIVING ELDERLYABSTRACT: Cross-sectional research to investigate the association between sociodemographic and clinical factors and the components hand grip strength and gait speed in long-living elderly. The sample included 243 long-living elderly from three primary health care services in Curitiba, Paraná, between January 2013 and September 2015. A significant association was identified between hand grip strength and sex (p=0.001), age (p=0.001), marital status (p=0.001), housing (p=0.001), falls in previous year (p=0.03), urine loss (p=0.001), use of cane (p=0.001) and walker (p=0.001). The gait speed was associated with sex (p=0.001), age (p=0.001), marital status (p=0.001), housing (p=0.001), falls in previous year (p=0.03), urine loss (p=0.001), use of cane (p=0.001) and walker (p=0.001). It is highlighted that the assessment of hand grip strength and gait speed helps to identify functional changes in long-living elderly and plays a fundamental role in the management of the physical frailty syndrome.

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