Sociodemographic and health factors associated with mortality in community-dwelling elderly

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to identify factors associated with mortality, with emphasis on gender and age differences. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, which uses data from the FIBRA-2008-2009 network in Campinas, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, with information on non-institutionalized residents of the urban area and the Mortality Information System. The dependent variable has been death, in 2013. The associations have been tested by odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals, and the analyses have been conducted using the program Stata 12.0. RESULTS: Average age has been 72.3 years, 69.3% have been women, and 8.9% have died. We have found greater OR for mortality in individuals aged >= 75 years, classified as pre-frail or frail, and in those who have reported heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the analysis of specific subgroups has allowed us to better understand the relationship between the factors associated with death in the elderly. With the exception of age, strategies based on primary and secondary care, focused on priority groups, can have a positive impact on the reduction of mortality among the elderly. DESCRIPTORS: Aged. Frail Elderly. Mortality. Risk Factors. Socioeconomic Factors. Gender and Health.