Prevalencia de personas mayores confinadas en su hogar en España

espanolObjetivo Se desconoce el numero de personas mayores que viven confinadas en su hogar debido a problemas funcionales o de otra naturaleza. El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar su prevalencia en Espana y conocer sus principales caracteristicas. Material y metodos Se utilizo la Encuesta de Discapacidad, Autonomia Personal y Situaciones de Dependencia. Se definio el confinamiento a partir de la dificultad declarada para movilidad fuera del hogar: personas confinadas en sentido estricto (no pueden salir nunca), semiconfinadas (pueden salir con ayuda pero con serias dificultades) y el resto fueron no confinadas. Se utilizaron los calificadores de capacidad y desempeno para evaluar el efecto final de la prestacion de ayuda tecnica o personal. Se calcularon prevalencias y se compararon caracteristicas sociodemograficas y de salud. Resultados Sobre un total de 2.146.362 de personas mayores con discapacidad, el 8,1% (IC 95%: 8,1-8,2) resulto poblacion confinada en sentido estricto y un 16,0% (IC 95%: 15,9-16,0) semiconfinada. Las personas mayores confinadas eran sobre todo mujeres, tenian una mayor edad media y un nivel bajo de estudios; declararon mas dificultades ante las barreras del entorno; presentaron peor salud percibida, mayor numero discapacidades, condiciones cronicas de salud y mas problemas funcionales. Conclusiones La prevalencia de personas mayores confinadas en su hogar, entre todas las que se encuentran en situacion de discapacidad, alcanzo el 24,1%. Sus caracteristicas sociales, de salud y funcionales indican situaciones de vulnerabilidad. La informacion sobre confinamiento puede contribuir a la mejora de los planes de actuacion social o de salud y facilita la visibilidad de este problema. EnglishObjective The number of older people with functional or other problems that prevent them from going out of doors is unknown. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of homebound status in Spain and to determine their main characteristics. Material and methods The Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health was used. Homebound status was defined according to the declared difficulty with regard to mobility outside the home: completely homebound (not able to leave home), semi-homebound (have serious difficulties but can leave with help), and the individuals without problems that were not homebound. Capacity and performance qualifiers were used to assess the final impact of technical or personal help. Prevalences were calculated, and sociodemographic and health characteristics were compared for the different groups. Results Out of a total of 2,146,362 older people with disabilities, 8.1% (95% CI: 8.1-8.2) and 16.0% (95% CI: 15.9-16.0) were (complete) homebound, and semi-homebound, respectively. The homebound elderly were mostly women, had a higher mean age and low education level. They also declared they had more difficulty for the environmental barriers, had worse perceived health, a greater number of disabilities, chronic health conditions, and more functional problems. Conclusions The prevalence of older disabled people with a homebound status was 24.1%. The social, health, and functional characteristics suggest situations of vulnerability. The information on homebound individuals could contribute to enhance social and health plans, and to raise the visibility of this problem.