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Impact of history or onset of chronic medical conditions on higher‐level functional capacity among older community‐dwelling Japanese adults
Author(s) -
Fujiwara Yoshinori,
Shinkai Shoji,
Kumagai Shu,
Amano Hidenori,
Yoshida Yuko,
Yoshida Hideyo,
Kim Hunkyung,
Suzuki Takao,
Watanabe Shuichiro,
Ishizaki Tatsuro,
Shibata Hiroshi
Publication year - 2003
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/j.1444-0594.2003.00098.x
Subject(s) - medicine , activities of daily living , gerontology , competence (human resources) , logistic regression , physical therapy , psychology , social psychology
Background: Many studies have examined the impact of chronic medical conditions on the age‐related decline in basic activities of daily living (BADL) and the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), but less is known concerning the influence of chronic disease on physical, cognitive, social, and economic aspects of higher‐level functional capacity. Methods: Subjects comprised 793 and 725 persons aged 65–84 years, living in an urban and a rural Japanese community, respectively. A baseline interview established any history of chronic medical conditions. Four years later, a second interview again assessed chronic disease, and higher‐level functional capacity was evaluated using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) Index of Competence. Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that declines in total score and/or any of three subscales of the TMIG Index of Competence were significantly associated with a history of chronic disease, the onset of visual impairment and the development of hearing impairment, even after controlling for the subject's age, gender, educational attainment, and baseline TMIG Index of Competence. Episodes of stroke were significantly associated with declines in IADL. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease were also significantly associated with a decrease in functional competence, although each affected a different subscale of the TMIG Index of Competence. Conclusions: The present results underline the importance of controlling chronic medical conditions through a physically active lifestyle and an appropriate medical regimen in order to limit the age‐related decline in functional capacity.