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Self‐Report of Difficulty in Performing Functional Activities Identifies a Broad Range of Disability in Old Age
Author(s) -
Langlois Jean A.,
Maggi Stefania,
Harris Tamara,
Simonsick Eleanor M.,
Ferrucci Luigi,
Pavan Mara,
Sartori Leonardo,
Enzi Giuliano
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1996.tb04065.x
Subject(s) - activities of daily living , medicine , gerontology , odds , odds ratio , physical disability , international classification of functioning, disability and health , population , association (psychology) , physical therapy , rehabilitation , psychology , logistic regression , environmental health , pathology , psychotherapist
OBJECTIVE: To describe a broad range of physical disability by examining the association between a four‐level measure of disability, based on self‐report of difficulty in performing functional activities, and previously identified risk factors for disability. DESIGN: Cross‐sectional. SETTING: Community‐based. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2373 noninstitutionalized men and women aged 65 and older from the Veneto Region of Italy. MEASUREMENTS: Odds ratios for the association of the four levels of disability (none, mild, moderate, and ADL disability) differentiated by this new measure with known risk factors for physical disability. MAIN RESULTS: This summary measure of physical disability distinguished older persons with disability from the population typically classified as nondisabled. Twenty‐one percent of study participants were identified as having Activities of Daily Living (ADL) disability (defined as self‐report of difficulty in one or more ADLs), and an additional 40% had mild or moderate disability based on degree of difficulty in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) and physical functional activities. Hip fracture and lower extremity performance were strongly independently associated with each level of disability. The association of a range of established risk factors for disability and health care utilization measures with the levels of disability identified in our study, and the trend toward increasing odds with increasing disability, provide evidence of the construct validity of this measure. CONCLUSIONS: Self‐report of difficulty in performing functional activities identifies older persons with physical disability not ascertained by self‐report of the need for help,