Social inequalities, functioning and quality of life in older adults in Primary Health Care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62827/gb.v2i2.0013Keywords:
Aging; Socioeconomic Factors; Epidemiology; Quality of Life.Abstract
Objective: To investigate social inequalities in the relationships between indicators of functional capacity and quality of life among older adults using Primary Heath Care (PHC) services. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of 201 older adults receiving care in Primary Health Care (PHC) in a municipality in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Indicators of functional capacity included mobility, mobility under dual motor and cognitive task conditions, handgrip strength, and lower limb strength. Quality of life was assessed using the 26-item World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), generating total and domain-specific scores. Social inequalities examined included sex, age group, educational level, and income sufficiency. Descriptive analyses were performed, along with Student’s t‑tests and Pearson’s correlation, adopting a 5% significance level. Results: The sample consisted predominantly of women (77.1%;n=155), individuals aged 60 to 74 years (79.1%;n=159), those with lower educational levels (54.7%;n=110), and those reporting insufficient income (67.2%;n=135). Indicators of functional capacity were correlated with quality of life among younger older adults, women, individuals with higher educational attainment, and those with insufficient income. Conclusion: Social inequalities influence the relationships between indicators of functional capacity and quality of life, particularly regarding sex and income sufficiency. The findings suggest that declines in functional capacity may have a greater impact on quality of life among women and individuals with insufficient income. Dual-task mobility tests, both motor and cognitive, may contribute to effective monitoring of functionality and prevention of functional decline in older adults receiving care in primary health services.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Juliana Martins Pinto, Claudio Mardey Nogueira, Luciana Rocha Nunes Nogueira, Yunara Fernandes Venturelli , Gabrielly Fernanda Silva , Thalyta Isis de Matos Pires, Paulo Henrique Ferreira de Araujo Barbosa (Autor)
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