Comparison of functional autonomy with associated sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, chronic diseases (CD) and neuropsychiatric factors in elderly patients with or without the metabolic syndrome (MS)

The objective of this study was to compare autonomy and its associated factors in the elderly with and without MS. This study was a cross-sectional evaluation comprised of 402 subjects aged 60 years or older, of both sexes, consulting at the Family Health program, in Viçosa/MG. Autonomy was classified according to the Group of Latin American Development to Maturity (GDLAM) protocol and MS according to classification of the International Diabetes Federation. The independent variables were sociodemographic gender, age, marital status, education, those related to lifestyle including levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior, neuropsychological aspects included depressive symptoms, level of cognition and the presence of CD. A multiple linear regression model was used to estimate associations of variables with autonomy in the elderly with or without the MS. In the elderly group without MS, autonomy was associated with increasing age, sedentary behavior and depressive symptoms. In the group of elderly patients with MS, in addition to these factors, autonomy was also associated with being illiterate, not being physically active and presenting chronic illness. It was concluded that the presence of MS worsened the functional autonomy of elderly persons.