Geriatric conditions and disability: the Health and Retirement Study.

TitleGeriatric conditions and disability: the Health and Retirement Study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsCigolle, CT, Langa, KM, Kabeto, MU, Tian, Z, Blaum, CS
JournalAnn Intern Med
Volume147
Issue3
Pagination156-64
Date Published2007 Aug 07
ISSN Number1539-3704
Call Numbernewpubs20071002_Cigolle_etal.pdf
KeywordsAccidental Falls, Activities of Daily Living, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Body Mass Index, Chronic disease, Cognition Disorders, Comorbidity, Cross-Sectional Studies, Disability Evaluation, Dizziness, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Geriatrics, Hearing Disorders, Humans, Male, Prevalence, Retirement, Urinary incontinence, Vision Disorders
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Geriatric conditions, such as incontinence and falling, are not part of the traditional disease model of medicine and may be overlooked in the care of older adults. The prevalence of geriatric conditions and their effect on health and disability in older adults has not been investigated in population-based samples.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of geriatric conditions and their association with dependency in activities of daily living by using nationally representative data.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis.

SETTING: Health and Retirement Study survey administered in 2000.

PARTICIPANTS: Adults age 65 years or older (n = 11 093, representing 34.5 million older Americans) living in the community and in nursing homes.

MEASUREMENTS: Geriatric conditions (cognitive impairment, falls, incontinence, low body mass index, dizziness, vision impairment, hearing impairment) and dependency in activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, toileting).

RESULTS: Of adults age 65 years or older, 49.9% had 1 or more geriatric conditions. Some conditions were as prevalent as common chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. The association between geriatric conditions and dependency in activities of daily living was strong and significant, even after adjustment for demographic characteristics and chronic diseases (adjusted risk ratio, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.9 to 2.4] for 1 geriatric condition, 3.6 [CI, 3.1 to 4.1] for 2 conditions, and 6.6 [CI, 5.6 to 7.6] for > or =3 conditions).

LIMITATIONS: The study was cross-sectional and based on self-reported data. Because measures were limited by the survey questions, important conditions, such as delirium and frailty, were not assessed. Survival biases may influence the estimates.

CONCLUSIONS: Geriatric conditions are similar in prevalence to chronic diseases in older adults and in some cases are as strongly associated with disability. The findings suggest that geriatric conditions, although not a target of current models of health care, are important to the health and function of older adults and should be addressed in their care.

DOI10.7326/0003-4819-147-3-200708070-00004
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17679703?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

ADL and IADL Impairments/Geriatrics/Chronic Disease/Health care

Endnote ID

18010

Alternate JournalAnn Intern Med
Citation Key7158
PubMed ID17679703
Grant ListU01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
1F32AG027649-01 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG09740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01:AG021493-01 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
5T32AG000114 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K08 AG19180 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States