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Use of medications and functional dependence among C hinese older adults in a rural community: A population‐based study
Author(s) -
Liang Yajun,
Johnell Kristina,
Yan Zhongrui,
Cai Chuanzhu,
Jiang Hui,
Welmer AnnaKarin,
Qiu Chengxuan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.12433
Subject(s) - medicine , activities of daily living , odds ratio , confidence interval , confounding , logistic regression , polypharmacy , gerontology , physical therapy
Aim To investigate the associations between medication use and functional dependence in C hinese older people living in a rural community. Methods The cross‐sectional study included 1538 participants (age ≥60 years, 59.1% women) in the C onfucius H ometown A ging P roject in S handong, C hina. In J une 2010 to J uly 2011, data on demographics, lifestyle factors, health history, basic activities of daily living ( ADL ), instrumental ADL , and use of medications were collected through interviews and clinical examinations. Functional status was categorized into no dependence, dependence only in instrumental ADL and dependence in basic ADL . Data were analyzed with multinomial logistic models controlling for potential confounders. Results Dependence in instrumental or basic ADL was significantly associated with use of antihypertensives and hypolipidemic agents, and basic ADL dependence was also associated with use of sedatives or tranquilizers and cardiac glycosides. An increased number of concurrently used medications was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of dependence in basic ADL ( P for trend = 0.016). Compared with non‐users of any medication, individuals who concurrently used three or more classes of medications had a multi‐adjusted odds ratio of 2.91 (95% confidence interval 1.02–8.28) for dependence in basic ADL . Conclusions Use of antihypertensives, hypolipidemic drugs, cardiac glycosides and sedatives or tranquilizers, especially use of multiple classes of medications, is correlated with functional dependence among older people in rural C hina. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 1242–1248.