Quality of life and frailty among hospitalized elderly patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life of hospitalized elderly patients according to the frailty status. An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted with 255 elderly patients in a city in the state of Minas Gerais. Fried frailty phenotype, WHOQOL-BREF, WHOQOL-OLD, and a structured instrument were used for socioeconomic and clinical data. Descriptive analysis and ANOVA-F test (p<0.05) were conducted. Regardless of the frailty status, a prevalence of male patients, 60?70 years old, married, living with a partner, and with individual income of one minimum wage was observed. In relation to education, a prevalence of 1?4 years of education was observed among the frail patients; for pre-frail and non-frail patients this number increases to 4?8 years. Frail patients presented: significantly lower scores in the physical and environmental domains and social participation facet in comparison to the others, and significantly lower score in sensory functioning in relation to pre-frail patients. This study emphasizes the importance of directing actions in health to the most affected items among frail patients.