Condições associadas ao estado cognitivo em pessoas idosas atendidas na atenção primária à saúde

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the conditions associated with cognitive status in elderly people treated in Primary Health Care (PHC) in the city of Santa Cruz, located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN). Methods: A cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was conducted with older adults attending PHC services. Data collection took place from July to December 2023, encompassing sociodemographic and clinical data assessing the risk of falls, malnutrition, functional decline, vulnerability, frailty, and quality of life. Descriptive analysis was performed, and Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to assess the association between cognitive status and other variables, using a significance level of 5%. Results: The study included 200 older adults, of whom 88.5% had preserved cognitive function and 11.5% had low cognition. Preserved cognition was associated with younger age group (60 to 79 years) (p<0.001), literacy (p<0.001), absence of functional decline risk (p=0.001), vulnerability (p=0.003), depression (p=0.030), and nutritional risk (p=0.039), while low cognitive function was associated with frailty (p=0.001). Conclusion: Older adults attending PHC services predominantly exhibit preserved cognitive function, which is associated with sociodemographic and clinical conditions that are essential in proposing actions aimed at maintaining preserved cognitive status