Low sociofamilial support and mortality risk in older adults

Objectives: Determine the association between social support and mortality, as well as the role of geriatric syndromes in this association. Materials and Methods: Observational study, retrospective cohort. Secondary analysis of a database of 1896 older adults, of which 212 were eliminated due to missing data, with a final sample of 1684. A bivariate analysis was performed based on mortality and subsequently, a Cox regression analysis was performed, presenting a crude and adjusted model, calculating HR and their respective 95% confidence intervals. Results: A mortality frequency (MF) of 11,16% (n = 188) was recorded, of Self-report of social support (SRSS) 17,46% (n = 294) and of social risk according to the Gijon Scale (GS) 27,02% (n = 455). Statistical significance was found with age, sex, marital status, comorbidities, geriatric syndromes, and social problems, measured according to SRSS and GS. Finally, two Cox regression models were constructed, one crude and the other adjusted. In the latter, it was found that the incidence of mortality is 6% higher compared to those with adequate socio-family support. Conclusions: The risk of mortality is 1,06 times higher in those patients who, according to GA, have poor social support, regardless of the number of comorbidities, geriatric syndromes, or age. Having two or more comorbidities and at least one geriatric syndrome increases the risk of mortality.