Chronic Diseases and Associated Factors among Older Adults in Loja, Ecuador

Patricia Bonilla-Sierra, Ana-Magdalena Vargas-Martínez, Viviana Davalos-Batallas, Fatima Leon-Larios and Maria- de-las-Mercedes Lomas-Campos
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Patricia Bonilla-Sierra: Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 110107, Ecuador
Ana-Magdalena Vargas-Martínez: Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
Viviana Davalos-Batallas: Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 110107, Ecuador
Fatima Leon-Larios: Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
Maria- de-las-Mercedes Lomas-Campos: Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: (1) Background: This study aimed to explore the symptoms, functional status, and depression in patients with chronic diseases in Loja, Ecuador. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with patients over 60 years old having at least one chronic disease and cared for in healthcare centers of the Health Ministry of Ecuador or living in associated geriatric centers. (3) Results: The sample comprised 283 patients with a mean age of 76.56 (SD 7.76) years. The most prevalent chronic diseases were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, followed by arterial hypertension and diabetes. Patients with a joint disease had the worst scores for the majority of the symptoms assessed with the Edmonton Scale. Cancer, dementia, and arterial hypertension contributed the most to the dependence levels assessed with the Barthel Index. Dementia contributed the most to the poor performance status evaluated with the Karnofsky Performance Status. Cancer and diabetes contributed the most to depression. Patients with a higher number of chronic diseases reported worse functional status. (4) Conclusions: Targeted interventions to address symptoms, functional status, and depression in patients with chronic diseases are needed.

Keywords: chronic disease; symptoms; dependence; performance; depression; Ecuador (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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