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Health status and disability among elderly people in three UK districts
R A Lyons1, P Crome, S Monaghan
1Department of Public Health Medicine, Iechyd Morgannwg Health, Swansea, UK.
Aim:
To obtain population data on health status and disability of elderly people which may help in planning and maintaining services and be used as comparators for research.
Method:
Random samples of people aged 70 and over were interviewed in their own homes in West Glamorgan, Dudley and North Staffordshire. The interviews included standardized assessments of health status (SF-36), disability (Barthel index) and cognitive function (Abbreviated Mental Test).
Results:
1608 interviews were completed. Response rates varied between 66 and 84%. Age and sex adjusted scores for five of the eight parameters of the SF-36 and the Barthel score differed significantly between districts.
Conclusions:
Local studies are required to provide appropriate normative data for each area. In the absence of such studies, the data in this paper are the best currently available.