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Health and function in the old and very old
A B Ford1, S J Folmar, R B Salmon
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|March 1, 1988
Summary
This study on aging adults suggests separating health conditions from functional disability assessments. Combining self-reports with medical evaluations offers better insights into elderly health and disability.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Epidemiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Aging populations require nuanced assessment of health conditions and functional disability.
- Existing studies often conflate self-reported illness with objective medical diagnoses.
- Understanding the interplay between disease and disability is crucial for elderly care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To advocate for the conceptual separation and parallel assessment of health conditions and functional disability in elderly populations.
- To demonstrate a method for assessing both medically diagnosed conditions and functional disability in older adults.
- To re-examine the utility and limitations of self-reported illness and disability in epidemiological studies.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 113 urban elderly individuals (74-95 years old) from Cleveland, Ohio.
- Structured interviews and epidemiologically based medical examinations conducted by a physician-nurse team.
- Assessment of 11 common chronic conditions and functional disability (mobility, activities of daily living) via self-report and medical evaluation.
Main Results:
- Self-reported illness and disability provide useful prevalence estimates in elderly populations.
- Self-report alone is insufficient for sensitive case-finding or diagnosis.
- A three-dimensional classification emerges when matching functional disabilities with underlying medical conditions and mortality data.
Conclusions:
- Conceptual separation of medical conditions and functional disability is vital for accurate assessment in the aged.
- Integrated assessment using self-report and medical evaluation enhances understanding of elderly health.
- The proposed three-dimensional classification has significant implications for future clinical and survey research involving older adults.