Magnitud y factores asociados al fenómeno de la muerte solitaria del anciano en la Comunidad Valenciana

espanolFundamentos: En la Comunidad Valenciana un 23% de los ancianos viven solos, representando la muerte solitaria del anciano un efecto indeseado del envejecimiento. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar la magnitud de este fenomeno y sus factores de riesgo en la poblacion mayor de 64 anos de la CV durante el periodo 2015-2017. Metodos: Estudio observacional, transversal. Se analizaron las defunciones domiciliarias de residentes mayores de 64 anos de la CV durante el periodo 2015-2017, con datos de los certificados medicos y judiciales de defuncion. Se describieron las tasas de incidencia ajustadas, caracteristicas sociodemograficas y causas de muerte. Para el analisis de factores de riesgo se realizo una regresion logistica multivariante tomando como medida de asociacion la Razon de Odds (OR) ajustada. Se uso un nivel de significacion α=0,05 y unos IC del 95%. Resultados: Se encontraron 417 casos. Las tasas ajustadas fueron: en 2015, 17,3 (IC95%: 14,7-20,2); en 2016, 14,5 (IC95%: 12,1-17,2); y en 2017, 13,2 (IC95%: 11,0-15,8). Las causas mas frecuentes fueron circulatorias (52,5%) y externas (19,2%). Los factores asociados a la MSA fueron el sexo (OR M/H: 2,40; IC95%: 1,87-3,06), edad (OR ≥76/ primavera; OR verano: 2,34; IC95%: 1,63-3,37) y nucleo de poblacion (OR rural/urbano: 2,20; IC95%1,58-3,08). Conclusiones: La magnitud de la muerte en solitario en la Comunidad Valenciana es relevante, existiendo un mayor riesgo en hombres y a edades mas tempranas, asi como en verano y areas urbanas. Presentar discapacidad representa una cierta proteccion. EnglishBackground: In the Valencian Community 23% of the elderly people live alone, representing the solitary death among aged persons an unwanted effect of aging. Our aim was to determine the magnitude of this phenomenon and its risk factors in the population over 64 years of the CV during the period 2015-2017. Methods: Cross-sectional study was carried out. Household deaths of residents over 64 years of the CV during the 2015-2017 period were analyzed, with records on medical and judicial death certificates. Adjusted incidence rates, sociodemographic characteristics and causes of death were described. For the analysis of risk factors, a multivariate logistic regression was performed, taking the adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) as an association measure. A significance level α=0.05 and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used. Results: 417 cases were found. The adjusted rates were: in 2015, 17.3 (95% CI: 14.7-20.2); in 2016, 14.5 (95% CI: 12.1-17.2); and in 2017, 13.2 (95% CI: 11,0- 15.8). The most frequent causes were circulatory (52.5%) and external (19.2%). After adjustment, gender (OR M / H: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.87-3.06), age (OR ≥76 / 95% CI: 3.53 -5.90), disability (OR No / Yes: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.31-0.85), season (ref: spring; summer OR: 2.34; 95% CI: 1.63-3 , 37) and population nucleus (rural / urban OR: 2.20; 95% CI 1.58-3.08), remained associated whit the MSA. Conclusions: The solitary death among aged persons is a phenomenon scarcely studied in our environment from public health. The magnitude in the CV is relevant, with a greater risk in men and at younger ages, as well as in summer and urban areas. Presenting disability represents a certain protection.