Relationship between chronological age and functional capacity in the elderly hospitalized in the CMDLT

Abstract

Chronological age is determined by the time lived and the deterioration of an organism over time; it is calculated from the date of birth. However, it is not a precise indicator of development or functional capacity, as these vary from individual to individual depending on the circumstances to which the individual is exposed. The conducted research corresponds to an epidemiological, prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study of direct source. It aimed to observe the relationship between chronological age and the functional capacity of older adults hospitalized at the Centro Médico Docente La Trinidad (CMDLT). This was achieved through a survey for data collection, including gender, age, psychobiological habits, and the Barthel Index to determine functional age. Data collection was performed using a questionnaire, Excel was employed, and statistical analysis was carried out in Rstudio. A total of 30 patients were evaluated, of which 46.67% were female and 53.33% were male, with ages ranging from 60 to 96 years. 27 patients (90%) reported having a healthy diet. It was evidenced that 83.33% of the patients have preserved functional capacity and are independent according to the Barthel Index, while only 16.66% presented functional dependence. These individuals shared characteristics such as sleeping less than 8 hours in all cases and being female. No direct relationship was established between any of the variables and the functional capacity of the patients.