Dependency Change with Aging and Associated Factors in Uruguay: A Cohort Study

• Published in: Journal of aging and health 2021-12, Vol.33 (10), p.886-895
• Main Authors: Marroig, Alejandra, Machado, Maximiliano, Muniz-Terrera, Graciela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aging; Cohort analysis; Cohort Studies; Comorbidity; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Older people; Sociodemographics; Uruguay
• ISSN: 0898-2643; 1552-6887
• DOI: 10.1177/08982643211017726

Objectives: To assess the heterogeneity of transitions toward dependency in older adults and to explore the robustness of results to different operationalizations of dependency. Method: Using data from people aged 60 years and older from a national representative study in Uruguay (Encuesta Longitudinal de Protección Social, N = 5071), we fitted multinomial regressions adjusted by sociodemographic and health characteristics to model transitions into dependency and death. We used a harder operationalization with basic activities of daily living (Katz-dependency) and Comprehensive-dependency with basic, instrumental, and advanced activities. Results: Increasing age (RRR = 1.08, CI = [1.05; 1.12], p < .001) and having comorbidities (RRR = 2.16, CI = [1.31; 3.57], p = .003) increased the risk of transition from nondependent to dependent using Katz-dependency. Women with at least two chronic conditions have increased risk of Comprehensive-dependency (RRR = 1.79, CI = [1.15; 2.80], p = .010). Discussion: Inconsistencies in findings emerged when evaluating transitions into dependency with the different measures, which may have social care implications.