Repositori URV

Identifier: TDX:618

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX618

Authors:
Juàrez Laiz, M. Mar

Abstract:
INTRODUCTION: The aging of the population is a known fact that will be maintained according to the WHO in the coming decades. Aging is associated with degenerative and pathological processes that frequently cause dependency on other persons. The aged are the population group that most frequently consults and that uses the greatest number of the health services. The best indicator of the health of this group is the functional state and the best way of evaluating it is through Integral Geriatric Assessment.OBJECTIVES: To determine the health problems of older people. To evaluate their quality of life and functional state. To know the accessibility, use, and frequentation of the health services. To analyze the factors with a greater predictive power of incapacitation. METODOLOGY: Transversal descriptive study. Population: all subjects older than 65 years of age in the city of Valls (Catalonia, Spain), according to the 2001 city census. Sample: 322 subjects, based on an randomized sample stratified by age and sex. Period of study:1 January 2002 to 30 April 2003. Integral Geriatric Assessment via the author's own questionnaire, specific evaluation instruments, and physical examination of all the subjects of the sample. Descriptive statistical and associational study of the different variables and multivariate analysis to verify the effect of different factors on the independent variables studied. RESULTS: 270 individuals. Participation: 83.8%. Sample fraction: 8.5%. 59.2% are women. 75.7 average age. 64.2% of the men live with a partner. The women more frequently live alone. 3.3% alternate 'residences.' 79.3% have finished primary school and 9.9% of the women are illiterate. 45.2% declare earnings of 300-600 /month, 45.9% more than 600 /month and 8.9% less than 300 /mo