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Mortality among elderly receiving long-term care: a longitudinal cohort study
Ulf Jakobsson1, Ingalill Rahm Hallberg
1Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, P.O. Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden. Ulf.Jakobsson@med.lu.se
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
|January 27, 2007
Summary
Mortality is high in elderly long-term care recipients. Severe cognitive impairment and high activities of daily living (ADL) scores predict mortality risk in this population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Investigating mortality patterns in elderly individuals receiving public long-term care.
- Understanding factors influencing survival and time to death in this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine mortality rates among elderly long-term care recipients.
- To identify key determinants of mortality in this population.
- To explore the relationship between functional status and mortality.
Main Methods:
- Study included 626 respondents aged 65-98 years, with data from 2001 and 2002 cohorts.
- Cox regression analysis identified mortality determinants.
- Comparison of deceased and surviving individuals based on demographics and activities of daily living (ADL).
Main Results:
- First-year crude mortality rates were 9% (2001) and 14% (2002); second-year rates were 23% (2001) and 18% (2002).
- Significant mortality predictors included male gender, severe cognitive impairment, co-morbidity, and high ADL scores.
- Malignant tumors and respiratory, urinary, and genito-urinary diseases were significant predictors.
Conclusions:
- High mortality rates and prevalent diseases were observed in elderly long-term care recipients.
- Activities of daily living (ADL) scores and cognitive impairment measures can identify high-risk individuals.
- The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to reduce mortality in this vulnerable group.
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