Characterization of Older Adults with Colorectal Cancer in the Community

Foundation: colorectal cancer is the most common neoplasm of the digestive system in older adults. In Cuba it is a major health problem due to its high incidence and mortality; it is the third cause of death in the general population.Objective: to characterize older adults with colorectal cancer at the Rudesindo Garcia del Rijo Sur Polyclinic in the Sancti Spiritus province.Methods: a descriptive research was carried out at the Sur Rudesindo Garcia del Rijo Polyclinic in the municipality and province of Sancti Spiritus, from January to March 2019. We worked with an intentional sample of 127 older adults, belonging to urban clinics. The variables analyzed were: age, sex, educational level, stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis, health status, comorbidities, capacity and perception of self-care and survival. For the stage at diagnosis, the anatomoclinical classification was used, comorbidity was measured using the Charlson index and the Self-Care Capacity and Perception Test for the Elderly. The information was processed through percentage analysis. The results achieved were interpreted as numbers with their percentages.Results: in the characterization of the sample, females, the age group between 70 and 79 years and the level of lower secondary education predominated. Stage II with a poor state of health and inadequate perception of self-care was the majority. Comorbidity was moderate with survival between 40 to 60 months. Conclusions: women between 70 and 79 years of age and lower secondary education level predominated, stage II and inadequate perception of self-care also prevailed.