Funcionalidade, risco de queda e qualidade de vida em pacientes idosos com acidente vascular cerebral crônico

Functionality, risk of falls and quality of life in elderly people with chronic stroke

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is an alteration in blood flow on the brain which can cause the death of neuron cells, generating motor disorders and impaired cognition. Objective: To investigate the functionality, risk of falls and quality of life on elderly people with chronic stroke. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly people from a Family Health Unit in the city of São Leopoldo/RS, assessed through an interview, the Postural Assessment Scale for Patients with Stroke (PASS), the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL).  The data was analyzed using SPSS version 27.0 and the significance level adopted was p<0.05. Results: Seventeen elderly people participated, with a mean age of 70.9 ± 6.5 years, 58.8% female, 88.2% had systemic arterial hypertension and 41.2% type 2 diabetes mellitus, and 52.9% used polypharmacy. 64.7% reported good quality of sleep, 58.8% were smokers or former smokers, and 76.5% did not exercise. The PASS revealed a mean total score of 29.8 ± 10 points, an increased risk of falls in 47.1% of the sample and a mean score of 152.9 ± 36.7 points on the SS-QOL. Conclusion: Best functionality was associated with a lower risk of falls and a higher quality of life, pointing out to the need to invest in physiotherapeutic strategies to mitigate the functional losses caused by age and, especially, the sequelae of chronic strokes.