Value of combined assessment of physical health and functional status in community-dwelling aged: a prospective study in Florence, Italy
Article Abstract:
Quality of life in older people is closely tied to functional ability, and clinicians need to use measures of disability when assessing older patients. Many physicians, however, utilize the medical, or classical, disease-oriented approach when evaluating their elderly patients, and this model ignores a function-oriented assessment. Though a biomedical model might be useful when a single disease is at issue, it is argued here that measures of functional status and well-being are both important dimensions to consider in the understanding of patients with chronic diseases. Data were extracted from a survey in Florence, Italy, where an investigation into the health and welfare of the older population was undertaken. The purpose of the present study was to identify significant variables that could define the role of functional disability in the early death of the elderly. There were 799 subjects who completed the study. Baseline and seven-year follow-up data on sociodemographic measures and functional capacity were obtained. Of the initial 799 subjects, 391 (48.9 percent) died during the seven years between baseline and follow-up. The rate of death increased significantly with age, and men had a higher rate than women. As the number of chronic conditions increased, mortality increased. Other significant factors predicting death included number of drugs used, number of visits to the physician in the past six months, and number of days of hospitalization. Consistent with other studies, poor functioning was the strongest predictor of mortality, after age. It is suggested that the traditional medical assessment be expanded to include a function-oriented assessment when planning for the needs of elderly patients. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1991
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Designing randomized controlled trials aimed at preventing or delaying functional decline and disability in frail, older persons: a consensus report
Article Abstract:
The discovery of the effective interventions to prevent or delay disability are benefited by the frail older persons who are not yet disabled and those with early disability who are at high risk of progression. The Interventions on Frailty Working Group has developed recommendations to screen, recruit, evaluate, and retain frail older persons in the randomized, controlled trials.
Publication Name: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0002-8614
Year: 2004
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Progressive versus catastrophic loss of the ability to walk: implications for the prevention of mobility loss
Article Abstract:
Research indicates that risk factors in disease and mortality outcomes vary between progressive mobility disability and catastrophic mobility disability. Catastrophic disability generated more risk factors and higher mortality rates than progressive disability. Implications for treatment and prevention strategies are discussed.
Publication Name: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0002-8614
Year: 2001
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