Práticas preventivas de declínio cognitivo realizadas por idosos e fatores associados

Abstract

Introduction: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a public health problem due to its significant impact on the lives of the elderly, family and health system. Several measures such as physical activity, cardiovascular risk control, Mediterranean diet, cognitive activities and social interaction have shown good results in preventing MCI. Studies have shown that the implementation of these measures is not significant and some factors are related to this behavior, however, there is not enough knowledge about this subject. Purpose: To analyze the prevalence of preventive practices of Mild Cognitive Impairment made by older adults and its association with sociodemographic factors, health conditions, and with the knowledge and attitudes. Methods: Cross-sectional and analytical study, developed with 557 elderly patients from the Family Health Units in the city of Tangará da Serra - MT. The proportional stratified random sample was obtained through the calculation for finite population, 4% error, 95% confidence level. Data were collected through interviews in participants’ homes, in the period from February to May of 2015, using a questionnaire with questions on sociodemographic characteristics, health, knowledge, attitudes and MCI preventive practices. Bivariate analysis was performed between the variable MCI preventive practices and sociodemographic variables, health, knowledge, attitude for membership verification (p <0.05) by Pearson x2

test with robust variance. The variables that were associated with p <0.20 were selected for entry in the multiple regression model Poisson by stepwise forward method. Results: Most elderly people have little knowledge of the MCI, favorable attitudes about this condition and performs preventive practices of MCI. The prevalence of preventive practices of MCI was 55.1%, not smoking was the most common (90.5%), visiting friends or relatives (79.9%), traveling, sightseeing and / or have moments of relaxation (61,6%) and reading books or newspapers (42.9%). Some factors were associated with preventive practice such as education, gender, occupation, functional capacity, health self-assessment and knowledge. Conclusion: Knowledge of the elderly about MCI still is unsatisfactory and shows the need for efforts to be made in order to increase it. The attitudes of the elderly are favorable to the preventive practices of MCI and, despite the unsatisfactory knowledge, the prevalence of preventive practices was greater in those who have satisfactory knowledge. The findings of this study provide subsidies to guide promotion practices and prevention of cognitive health of this population, considering for this its characteristics, not only sociodemographic and health, but also the knowledge and attitudes that older people have about the disease, important aspects in motivation for development of MCI preventive practices.