Factors associated with functional dependence in older adults in an outpatient geriatric service.

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/revsalud/a.13793

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Published: Feb 27, 2026
Issue: Vol. 23 No. 3 (2025): Revista Ciencias de la Salud
Section Clinical or Experimental Research


Keywords: daily activities ambulatory elderly malnutrition multimorbidity

Main Article Content

Authors

  Diego Alejandro Arias Delgado
Hospital Universitario San José-Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá
  Laura Cepeda-Alfonso
  Diego Andrés Chavarro-Carvajal
Unidad de Geriatría del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio e Instituto de Envejecimiento de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá, Colombia)
  Rodrigo Alberto Heredia Ramírez
Unidad de Geriatría del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio e Instituto de Envejecimiento de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá, Colombia)
  Carlos Alberto Cano Gutierrez
Unidad de Geriatría del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio e Instituto de Envejecimiento de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá, Colombia).

Abstract

Introduction: with the aging of the population, the use of health services, multimorbidity and functional deterioration have grown remarkably. This last variable is key to choosing the best level of care for each patient.


Objective: to describe the prevalence and factors associated with functional dependence in patients of the geriatric outpatient service of the San Ignacio University Hospital in Bogotá (Colombia).


Methodology: a cross-sectional study was carried out with 1,521 patients evaluated in the geriatric outpatient clinic of the San Ignacio University Hospital between 2016 and 2020.


Results: some degree of dependency was documented in 77.45% of the population. In the bivariate analysis, the variables associated with dependency were: age over 80 years (OR 2.37 (95% CI 1.81-3.1)), being a woman (OR 2.03 (95% CI 1.57-2.61 )), multimorbidity (OR 1.51 (1.17-1.94)), polypharmacy (OR 1.56 (1.21-2.01)), nutritional risk (OR 2.52 (1.944-3.28 )), decreased calf circumference (OR 1.64 (1.20-2.26)), decreased gait speed (OR 5.03 (3.59-7.03)), dementia (OR 4.64 (3.53-6.12)) and low grip strength (OR 3.19 (2.10-4.85)). In the multivariate analysis, multimorbidity (OR 1.57 (1.02-2.40)), nutritional risk (1.56 (1.12 - 2.19)), having dementia (3.07 ( 2.09-4.50)) and low grip strength (2.82 (1.70-4.67)) had a statistically significant association with functional dependence.


Conclusion: functional dependence is highly prevalent in our population, the presence of various geriatric syndromes is associated with this outcome. Early detection and intervention of these risks are key to preventing dependency.

Author Biography

Diego Alejandro Arias Delgado, Hospital Universitario San José-Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá

Médico Cirujano de la universidad el Bosque, cursando la especialización en geriatría en la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana

How to Cite
Arias Delgado, D. A., Cepeda-Alfonso, L., Chavarro-Carvajal, D. A., Heredia Ramírez, R. A., & Cano Gutierrez, C. A. (2026). Factors associated with functional dependence in older adults in an outpatient geriatric service. Revista Ciencias De La Salud, 23(3), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/revsalud/a.13793
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