Resumo Introdução: O envelhecimento abrange características genéticas, biológicas, psicológicas e do ambiente em que a pessoa está inserida, como o meio social, político, econômico e cultural. Objetivo: Estimar a associação entre capacidade funcional (CF) e status socioeconômico (SSE) de idosos. Método: Estudo epidemiológico transversal, de base populacional. Foram avaliados participantes de 60 a 79 anos de ambos os sexos (n=467). A CF, estimada por meio do questionário SF-36, foi ordenada em quartis (Q1=pior e Q4=melhor) e dicotomizada. A associação entre CF e SSE foi estimada pelo teste de Kruskal-Wallis e por regressão logística múltipla. Resultados: A mediana da CF foi 70 (intervalo interquartil — IQ=40–85). Houve maior dificuldade para atividades vigorosas (42,8%); subir vários lances de escada (29,3%); curvar-se, ajoelhar-se ou dobrar-se (35,6%); e andar vários quarteirões (30,4%). Observou-se associação estatisticamente significante entre CF e pior SSE (Q1=32,0% vs. Q4=22,5%), sexo masculino (Q1=27,0% vs. Q4=61,5%), sedentarismo (Q1=40,5% vs. Q4=14,9%), força muscular (Q1=24,6 kg/f vs. Q4=32,6 kg/f) e desempenho físico (Q1=12s vs. Q4=9s). A regressão logística ajustada apresentou associação entre pior CF e médio SSE (OR=2,6; IC95% 1,1–6,2), pior SSE (OR=2,2; IC95% 0,9–5,4), sexo feminino (odds ratio — OR=2,4; IC95% 1,1–5,1), insuficientemente ativos (OR=1,6; IC95% 1,0–2,6) e pior desempenho físico (OR=1,4; IC95% 1,3–1,6). Conclusão: Baixa CF está associada a médio/pior SSE nos idosos.
Abstract Background: Aging covers genetic, biological and psychological characteristics, as well as those that relate to the environment in which the person is inserted, such as the social, political, economic and cultural ones. Objective: Estimate the association between functional capacity (FC) and socioeconomic status (SES) of the elderly. Method: Cross-sectional, population-based epidemiological study. We analyzed subjects between 60 and 79 years old of both sexes (n=467). The FC was estimated through the SF-36 questionnaire, ordered in quartiles (Q1=worst and Q4=best) and dichotomized. The association between FC and SES was estimated by the Kruskal-Wallis test and by multiple logistic regression. Results: The median of FC was 70 (interquartile range — IQR=40-85). There was greater difficulty for vigorous activities (42.8%); climbing several flights of stairs (29.3%); bending, kneeling, or stooping (35.6%); and walking several blocks (30.4%). A statistically significant association was observed between FC and worse SES (Q1=32.0% vs. Q4=22.5%), male gender (Q1=27.0% vs. Q4=61.5%), sedentary lifestyle (Q1=40.5% vs. Q4=14.9%), muscle strength (Q1=24.6 kg/f vs. Q4=32.6 kg/f) and physical performance (Q1=12s vs. Q4= 9s). The adjusted logistic regression indicated an association between the worst FC and the average SES (odds ratio — OR=2.6; 95% confidence interval — 95%CI 1.1–6.2), the worst SES (OR=2.2; 95%CI 0.9–5.4), female gender (OR=2.4; 95%CI 1.1–5.1), being insufficiently active (OR=1.6; 95%CI 1.0–2.6) and having the worst physical performance (OR=1.4; 95%CI 1.3–1.6). Conclusion: Low FC is associated with medium/worse SES in the elderly.