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Functional ability and independence among older adults in Northern Portugal: A cross-sectional study

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Resumo:The aging process impacts daily living activities, highlighting the need to assess functional ability to support independence in older adults. To characterize the functional ability of community-dwelling older adults in northern Portugal. Methodology: Sixty older adults, aged 60 and above, were assessed for body composition, self-reported health, medication intake, and fall history. Independence in basic and instrumental daily activities was evaluated using the Barthel Index and Lawton and Brody scale, respectively. Functional tests included handgrip strength, 10 meters walk test, five-times sit-to-stand, Timed up and go test, and one leg standing test. Participants had an average age of 67.86±6.46 years, classified as pre-obese based on body mass index, 43.95±6.77 kilograms of muscle mass, and 30% of body fat. Over half (51.6%) rated their health as poor, 88.3% took prescribed medication (average of three per day), and 36.7% had fallen in the past year. Dependence was observed in daily activities (Barthel Index: 19.86±0.35; Lawton and Brody: 22.70±1.23). Functional tests revealed a handgrip strength of 27.39±8.56 kilograms (37.21±6.06 for males, and 22.50±3.93 for females), a self-selected gait velocity of 1.78±0.19 meters/second, a time to complete the five-times sit-to-stand, the Timed up and Go and the one leg standing of 15.48±3.71, 9.32±1.99 and 30.23±23.07 seconds, respectively. While older adults in northern Portugal demonstrate mild functional impairments, their challenges in daily activities and self-perceived health from age 60 underscore the importance of early intervention strategies. Further research is needed to identify influencing factors and develop targeted interventions to enhance independence.
Autores principais:Moreira, Juliana
Outros Autores:Santos, Rubim; Sousa, Andreia S. P.; Santos Moreira, Juliana; Rubim Silva Santos, Manuel; Pinheiro de Sousa, Andreia Sofia
Assunto:Gerontology Functional ability Independence Activities of daily living
Ano:2025
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:artigo original
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:Instituto Politécnico do Porto
Idioma:inglês
Origem:Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico do Porto

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