MOREIRA, Lisa Teresa et al. Prevalence of frailty syndrome in the northern region of mainland Portugal. []. , 34, 6, pp.353-359. ISSN 2182-5173.  https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v35i6.12235.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Frailty Syndrome in the population of the northern region of mainland Portugal. Study type: Observational study, descriptive and transversal. Setting: USF Nova Era, USF Veiga do Leça, USF Cristelo, USF São Miguel-O-Anjo. Participants: Patients born before 1952 at the time of the study. Methods: A convenience sample of 408 participants was selected from the population of users born before 1952, enrolled in the family health units included in this study (N=7,189) in March 2016. The number of participants was distributed among the four units, according to their relative weight in the population [USF Nova Era (132), USF Veiga do Leça (94), USF Cristelo (86), and USF São Miguel-O-Anjo (96)]. A demographic questionnaire, the PRISMA-7 questionnaire and the Gait Speed Test (for a distance of four meters) were applied. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS® v. 20. Results: The mean age was 74.3 ± 6.6, and 54.7% of the participants were women. Most were married (64.6%) and had the first cycle of schooling (46.6%). The prevalence of frailty syndrome was 34.5%, and the prevalence of pre-frailty was 18.3% for the study sample. The prevalence of frailty syndrome increases with age, in the unmarried population, and in those with less than four years of schooling. Conclusion: The prevalence of frailty syndrome is higher than the values reported in European and North American literature, but similar to those described in Southern European countries.

: Frailty; Geriatrics; Frail elderly.

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