Relação da rede de apoio social e a qualidade de vida em idosos longevos

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between social support and quality of life in oldest-old subjects with 90 or more years of age living in Porto Alegre. Methods: The design is an exploratory transversal, observational and analytical research. The sample com-prised 60 respondents 90 years or older of both sexes interviewed during the period of No-vember 2011 to January 2012. The project was approved by the Research Ethics PUCRS un-der number 11/05451. The information of the data were obtained through structured inter-views, consisting of open and closed questions, involving six validated instruments of re-search: 1. General socio-demographic data; 2. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); 3.WHOQOL-OLD 4. Social Support Survey; 5. Yesavage Geriatric Depression - short ver-sion (GDS-15 ); 6. Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). The questionnaires were developed by the program TeleForm allowing the insertion of electronic data for analysis using the program EPI INFO version 3.5.1, con-sidering significant differences with p <0.05 and indicative of significance p> 0.05 and <0.1 . Results: The average income was higher in the oldest-old men than women. Although the results reveal considerable cognitive impairment in the survey, oldest-old men presented bet-ter levels of MMSE and GDS-15 than the women at same age. The mean IADL and ADL were also better in men than in women. The average number of contacts proved to be higher in females than in males. In relation to the various types of social support, the study shows that women need more material support than men. On the other hand, men needed more affec-tive, emotional, and information supports and positive interactions than women. The averages of all WHOQOL domains (Physical, Psychological, Social Relationships and Environment) and the overall level of quality of life, were higher among men than among women-lived, but the differences were not significant. There was a significant relationship between the various domains of the WHOQOL and the different types of social support. Conclusions: The men, though outnumbered, have better social support and quality of life that the long-lived. The results clearly show that all types of social support, although to a lesser extent the material support, influenced positively on the quality of life for the oldest old.