Avaliação da ingestão hídrica de idosos pertencentes a um centro de convivência no município de Picuí, Paraíba.

Abstract

Water is the most abundant element in our body and performs several vital functions. A lack of water can cause various damages to the body, including dehydration, which is very common in the elderly, due to changes caused by senescence that can lead to low water consumption. water, such as a decrease in the sensation of thirst, prevalence of tooth decay, periodontitis and tooth loss, as well as a decrease in the quantity and quality of saliva, swallowing disorders and a decrease in taste buds, this low consumption can bring about several clinical manifestations such as dry skin and mouth, constipation, headache, among others, and it is important to study this consumption to reduce these symptoms and improve the quality of life of this population. The present work aimed to evaluate the water intake of elderly people belonging to a community center in the municipality of Picuí, Paraíba. A sample of 68 (sixty-eight) elderly people attending the “Centro do Idoso Manoel Putêncio” in Pícuí-PB, selected randomly, was obtained. To collect the data, a questionnaire adapted from Araújo (2014) was used, where the aspects sociodemographic, clinical, physiological and fluid intake habits of the elderly people interviewed, the questionnaire was applied over a period of 2 (two) months, covering the months of July and August 2023 at the Centro do Idoso de Picuí – PB. The sample was mostly made up of females (86.8%) and 13.2% of males. When evaluating nutritional status, it was observed that 17.6% were underweight and that both elderly people who were in eutrophy and those with excess weight had the same percentage (41.2%), the majority (94.1%) reported having this habit of drinking liquids, 67.7% consumed 1-2 liters of water per day, not no relevant relationship was found between nutritional status and age, negative association with nutritional status and relevance of the symptom of physical and mental fatigue and changes in relation to the amount of water consumed by the elderly. Considering the consequences that dehydration can bring to the elderly, it is necessary to carry out more specific studies to seek how to improve this water consumption and educational lectures with Folders so that they obtain greater knowledge about the importance of dehydration for thus reducing symptoms and improving the quality of life of this public.