Factors associated with functional impairment of elderly patients in the emergency departments

OBJECTIVE: To assess the functional capacity of elderly patients in the emergency department as to Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 200 elderly patients admitted to the emergency department of a teaching hospital in São Paulo (SP), Brazil. The functional capacity of the elderly was assessed by the Katz index and Lawton & Brody scale. Statistical analyses were performed using analysis of variance, Bonferroni correction, χ(2) test, or the likelihood ratio test. RESULTS: Most seniors were independent (65%), and the degree of dependence was related to age, female gender, being single and widowed, and presence of cerebrovascular disease and dementia. The more dependent elderly for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living had increased dependence for Basic Activities. CONCLUSION: We emphasize the importance of assessing the functional capacity of the elderly in the emergency department as it provides data for the nursing care in order to minimize or to avoid their functional impairment.