Instrumental Activities of Daily Living as a Potential Marker of Frailty A Study of 7364 Community-Dwelling Elderly Women (the EPIDOS Study)
01 Jul 2001-Journals of Gerontology Series A-biological Sciences and Medical Sciences (Oxford University Press)-Vol. 56, Iss: 7
TL;DR: The results confirmed that women with disability on at least one IADL item are frailer because they had more associated disorders, poorer cognitive function and more frequent falls.
Abstract: Background. A number of clinical conditions have been shown to be associated with frailty in elderly people. We hypothesized that incapacities on the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) scale could make it possible to identify this population. We investigated the associations between IADL incapacities and the various known correlates of frailty in a cohort of community-dwelling elderly women. Methods. Cross-sectional analysis was carried out on the data from 7364 women aged over 75 years (EPIDOS Study). The IADL was the dependent variable. Sociodemographic, medical, and psychological performance measures were obtained during an assessment visit. Falls in the previous 6 months and fear of falling were also ascertained. Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The factors associated with disability in at least one IADL were included in a logistic regression model. Results. Thirty-two percent of the population studied had disability in at least one IADL item. This group was significantly older (81.7 � 4.1 yr vs 79.8 � 3.4 yr), had more frequent histories of heart disease, stroke, depression or diabetes, and was socially less active ( p � .001). These associations persisted after multivariate analysis. Cognitive impairment as assessed by the Pfeiffer test (Pfeiffer score � 8) was closely associated with disabilities on the IADL (OR 3.101, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.19‐4.38). Falls and fear of falling were also more frequent in the group of women with an abnormal IADL ( p � .001) but only fear of falling remained significantly associated with incapacities on at least one IADL item after logistic regression (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.28‐1.69). Women with disability on at least one IADL item also had lower bone mineral density, this was independent of the other factors. Conclusion. Our results confirmed that women with disability on at least one IADL item are frailer because they had more associated disorders, poorer cognitive function and more frequent falls. Disabilities on this scale could be a good tool for identifying individuals at risk of frailty among elderly persons living at home and in apparent good health. This finding requires confirmation by longitudinal studies.
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TL;DR: In this paper, a review and extraction of all publications containing concepts related to definitions of frailty and categorization of them was carried out, and a total of six electronic databases (PubMed, Ovid web, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest) were searched to identify studies that introduced a definition of dementia up to October 2018.
Abstract: This study aimed to review and extract all publications containing concepts related to definitions of frailty and categorize them. A total of six electronic databases (PubMed, Ovid web, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest) were searched to identify studies that introduced a definition of frailty up to October 2018. No language restrictions were imposed. Totally, 104,370 papers were found in the initial search and finally 68 papers were included. Of these, 21 studies provided a conceptual definition and 50 original articles also 9 review articles provided a practical definition. Moreover, 12 papers had both definitions of frailty. Of them, 62 were published in English, 2 in Portuguese, 1 in Japanese, 2 in Korean, and 1 in German languages. Many screening tools have been developed but neither of them can cover a wide range of parameters at the same time, nor do they have simplicity in the execution. It is important to note that although a more or less general consensus on one single definition might be expected, we believe that the elderly population is too heterogeneous to allow a tool to address it as a whole, and such a definition may even be impossible. Therefore, in the absence of a “Gold Standard” definition, it is suggested to seek accurate knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of each definition and choose the most appropriate definition and the most effective evaluation tool according to the purpose of the research and the characteristics of the older population.
9 citations
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: The prevalencia de discapacidad fisica in adultos mayores of Ciudad de La Habana, Las Tunas, Granma, Holguin, and Camaguey, entre los anos 2000 and 2004, was studied in this article.
Abstract: Introduccion: La discapacidad fisica es uno de los problemas mas importantes que enfrenta la comunidad cientifica cubana. Objetivos: Estimar la prevalencia de discapacidad fisica en adultos mayores de Ciudad de La Habana, Las Tunas, Granma, Holguin y Camaguey, entre los anos 2000 y 2004. Metodos: Se realizo un estudio descriptivo sobre muestras complejas de adultos mayores seleccionados de forma independiente para cada provincia. Se aplico el Indice Lawton y el Examen Minimo del Estado Mental. Se estimaron tasas de prevalencia de discapacidad fisica, globales y especificas. Resultados: La discapacidad fisica oscilo entre 13,9 % (Holguin) y 36,6 % (Granma). Se incremento con la edad, desde 4,5 %, para las personas de 60-69 anos que residen en Holguin, hasta 83 % en los de 80 y mas de Las Tunas; predomino en mujeres de todas las provincias, con tasas que alcanzaron el 40 %, excepto para Holguin. Los ancianos de esta provincia tuvieron menor afectacion que los de las restantes provincias en todas las actividades, excepto en el manejo de la casa, de menor afectacion en los de Las Tunas (10,9 %). El uso del telefono fue lo mas conservado independientemente de la provincia, mientras que la responsabilidad con los medicamentos mostro valores parecidos en cada una de estas. Conclusiones: La discapacidad fisica es frecuente en la poblacion investigada, con excepcion de quienes residen en Holguin; se incrementa con la edad, predomina en el sexo femenino y se genera por perdida de actividades que demandan mayor desplazamiento. Las variables psicosociales mas afectadas son: el analfabetismo y la perdida de rol social. En Holguin predomina la sensacion de inactividad y la insatisfaccion con las actividades cotidianas, la primera de ellas presente ademas, en Las Tunas y la segunda en Camaguey. En Ciudad de La Habana y Granma se adiciona el sentimiento de soledad.
9 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The hypothesis that assessment of perceived health can help differentiate low-risk elderly people requiring usual surveillance for geriatric conditions from high- risk elderly people who require timely evaluation and management is supported.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE To examine the association between perceived health and self-reported presence of certain geriatric conditions. Perceived health (the way people rate their own health) is a summary measure of health status that predicts functional decline, health care use, and mortality, but has not been examined as a measure of the prevalence of key geriatric conditions among older adults. DESIGN Cross-sectional surveys addressing perceived health and other study variables were mailed to practice patients. SETTING An urban university-based family medicine residency program. PARTICIPANTS In a random sample of 400 patients (from 1327 potential participants) older than 65 years (excluding those with known dementia), more than half (262) responded with usable surveys. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Self-reported geriatric syndromes, such as perceived memory loss, depression, falls, incontinence, weight loss, problems with walking, and difficulties with instrumental activities of daily living. RESULTS Of 262 respondents, 102 reported that they perceived their health as poor or fair and were much more likely than people who perceived their health as robust (good, very good, or excellent) to report memory impairment (49.6% vs 23.1%), depression (38.0% vs 13.5%), falls (26.5% vs 12.5%), incontinence (48.5% vs 34.6%), weight loss (33.3% vs 15.4%), needing help with walking (27.3% vs 13.1%), and difficulties with activities of daily living (57.6% vs 24.4%). CONCLUSION These results support the hypothesis that assessment of perceived health can help differentiate low-risk elderly people requiring usual surveillance for geriatric conditions from high-risk elderly people who require timely evaluation and management.
9 citations
01 Jan 2010
TL;DR: In fact, Espana es uno de los paises con mayor esperanza de vida en el mundo pero cuando se habla de esperanzas de vidas en buena salud, la situación empeora respecto a otros paises como Francia, Suecia, Australia, Japon, Japón as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Las Naciones Unidas preven que para los proximos 15 anos la sociedad espanola puede llegar a ser la mas envejecida del mundo, lo que supondra el 6% de la poblacion (Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, Febrero 2008). Actualmente Espana es uno de los paises con mayor esperanza de vida en el mundo pero cuando se habla de esperanza de vida en buena salud, la situacion empeora respecto a otros paises como Francia, Suecia, Australia, Japon. Anadir vida no siempre es sinonimo ...
8 citations
TL;DR: The results highlight the most vulnerable subgroups for dependencies and the importance of a family caregiver in elderly residents from the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to describe dependence for the activities of food shopping, preparing meals and eating in elderly residents from the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. Bivariate analysis and ordinal logistic regression were employed to assess the three dependencies and exposure variables studied. Of the 1,451 older adults assessed, 21.1% required assistance for some activities where this care was given predominantly by son/daughter and partners. The highest prevalence of dependence was for food shopping (20.7%), followed by preparing meals (11.5%) and eating (2.0%). Elderly aged 80 years or older were more likely to be in a greater dependence category than individuals aged 60-69 years, with odds ratios of 5.0 for men and 7.1 for women. The odds ratio in individuals who self-rated their health as regular, poor or very poor was approximately 2.3 times greater, proving similar for both genders. Women with no partner had a 1.7 times greater chance of dependence whilst individuals with greater educational level exhibited 70.0% protection for their reference category; men with lower socioeconomic level had a 5.3 times greater chance of dependence than individuals with higher socioeconomic level. These results highlight the most vulnerable subgroups for dependencies and the importance of a family caregiver.
8 citations
References
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TL;DR: Two scales first standardized on their own population are presented, one of which taps a level of functioning heretofore inadequately represented in attempts to assess everyday functional competence, and the other taps a schema of competence into which these behaviors fit.
Abstract: THE use of formal devices for assessing function is becoming standard in agencies serving the elderly. In the Gerontological Society's recent contract study on functional assessment (Howell, 1968), a large assortment of rating scales, checklists, and other techniques in use in applied settings was easily assembled. The present state of the trade seems to be one in which each investigator or practitioner feels an inner compusion to make his own scale and to cry that other existent scales cannot possibly fit his own setting. The authors join this company in presenting two scales first standardized on their own population (Lawton, 1969). They take some comfort, however, in the fact that one scale, the Physical Self-Maintenance Scale (PSMS), is largely a scale developed and used by other investigators (Lowenthal, 1964), which was adapted for use in our own institution. The second of the scales, the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL), taps a level of functioning heretofore inadequately represented in attempts to assess everyday functional competence. Both of the scales have been tested further for their usefulness in a variety of types of institutions and other facilities serving community-resident older people. Before describing in detail the behavior measured by these two scales, we shall briefly describe the schema of competence into which these behaviors fit (Lawton, 1969). Human behavior is viewed as varying in the degree of complexity required for functioning in a variety of tasks. The lowest level is called life maintenance, followed by the successively more complex levels of func-
14,832 citations
TL;DR: A 10‐item Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ), easily administered by any clinician in the office or in a hospital, has been designed, tested, standardized and validated.
Abstract: Clinicians whose practice includes elderly patients need a short, reliable instrument to detect the presence of intellectual impairment and to determine the degree. A 10-item Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ), easily administered by any clinician in the office or in a hospital, has been designed, tested, standardized and validated. The standardization and validation procedure included administering the test to 997 elderly persons residing in the community, to 141 elderly persons referred for psychiatric and other health and social problems to a multipurpose clinic, and to 102 elderly persons living in institutions such as nursing homes, homes for the aged, or state mental hospitals. It was found that educational level and race had to be taken into account in scoring individual performance. On the basis of the large community population, standards of performance were established for: 1) intact mental functioning, 2) borderline or mild organic impairment, 3) definite but moderate organic impairment, and 4) severe organic impairment. In the 141 clinic patients, the SPMSQ scores were correlated with the clinical diagnoses. There was a high level of agreement between the clinical diagnosis of organic brain syndrome and the SPMSQ scores that indicated moderate or severe organic impairment.
4,897 citations
TL;DR: Among nondisabled older persons living in the community, objective measures of lower-extremity function were highly predictive of subsequent disability.
Abstract: Background Functional assessment is an important part of the evaluation of elderly persons. We conducted this study to determine whether objective measures of physical function can predict subsequent disability in older persons. Methods This prospective cohort study included men and women 71 years of age or older who were living in the community, who reported no disability in the activities of daily living, and who reported that they were able to walk one-half mile (0.8 km) and climb stairs without assistance. The subjects completed a short battery of physical-performance tests and participated in a follow-up interview four years later. The tests included an assessment of standing balance, a timed 8-ft (2.4-m) walk at a normal pace, and a timed test of five repetitions of rising from a chair and sitting down. Results Among the 1122 subjects who were not disabled at base line and who participated in the four-year follow-up, lower scores on the base-line performance tests were associated with a statisticall...
3,388 citations
TL;DR: Research on the risks associated with usual aging and strategies to modify them should help elucidate how a transition from usual to successful aging can be facilitated.
Abstract: Research in aging has emphasized average age-related losses and neglected the substantial heterogeneity of older persons. The effects of the aging process itself have been exaggerated, and the modifying effects of diet, exercise, personal habits, and psychosocial factors underestimated. Within the category of normal aging, a distinction can be made between usual aging, in which extrinsic factors heighten the effects of aging alone, and successful aging, in which extrinsic factors play a neutral or positive role. Research on the risks associated with usual aging and strategies to modify them should help elucidate how a transition from usual to successful aging can be facilitated.
2,809 citations
TL;DR: Among older people living in the community falls are a strong predictor of placement in a skilled-nursing facility; interventions that prevent falls and their sequelae may therefore delay or reduce the frequency of nursing home admissions.
Abstract: Background Falls warrant investigation as a risk factor for nursing home admission because falls are common and are associated with functional disability and because they may be preventable. Methods We conducted a prospective study of a probability sample of 1103 people over 71 years of age who were living in the community. Data on demographic and medical characteristics, use of health care, and cognitive, functional, psychological, and social functioning were obtained at base line and one year later during assessments in the participants' homes. The primary outcome studied was the number of days from the initial assessment to a first long-term admission to a skilled-nursing facility during three years of follow-up. Patients were assigned to four categories during follow-up: those who had no falls, those who had one fall without serious injury, those who had two or more falls without serious injury, and those who had at least one fall causing serious injury. Results A total of 133 participants (12.1 perce...
1,337 citations