[Socioeconomic and demographic indicators associated with functional disability in the elderly].

This study analyzed the prevalence of functional disability in the elderly and its association with socioeconomic and demographic factors. This was a population-based cross-sectional study with a sample of 631 elders (≥ 60 years). The Katz index and Lawton scale, respectively, were used to evaluate basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Demographic and socioeconomic variables were analyzed. Numerical variables were tested with the Student t test and non-numerical ones with the chi-square test. The odds of functional disability were measured by logistic regression. Prevalence rates of functional disability for basic and instrumental activities of daily living were 15.5% and 26.1%, respectively. Instrumental activities presented more variables significantly associated with the outcome in the final logistic regression model. Prevalence of functional disability was not higher than described in the Brazilian literature. An important association was found between the outcome and independent variables.