Longitudinal Study of Determinants of Dependence in an Elderly Population

Objectives: To describe those factors, from the host of initial measures in ambulatory, independent older men and women, that were determinants of becoming dependent over an 8‐year follow‐up. Design: Initial measures in a cohort of independent older adults were used in logistic regression to describ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) 2004-10, Vol.52 (10), p.1632-1638
Main Authors: Paterson, Donald H., Govindasamy, Devin, Vidmar, Marjan, Cunningham, David A., Koval, John J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of Daily Living
Aged
Aging
Anthropometry
Biological and medical sciences
Canada
Cardiorespiratory diseases
cardiorespiratory fitness
Cohort analysis
Dependence
Elderly people
Exercise
Female
General aspects
Geriatric Assessment - methods
Health Status
Humans
Independent living
Leisure Activities
Logistic Models
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Older people
Ontario
Oxygen Consumption
Physical activity
Physical fitness
Risk factors
strength
VO2max
Walking
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Summary:Objectives: To describe those factors, from the host of initial measures in ambulatory, independent older men and women, that were determinants of becoming dependent over an 8‐year follow‐up. Design: Initial measures in a cohort of independent older adults were used in logistic regression to describe the determinants of becoming dependent at the 8‐year follow‐up. Setting: London, Ontario. Participants: Three hundred seventy‐three men and women aged 55 to 86. Measurements: Initial variables included body size, presence of chronic disease, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), strength, flexibility, walking pace, and leisure time physical activity. Results: An 8‐year follow‐up of 297 participants identified 43 as dependent. Logistic regression showed age, presence of disease, and VO2max (cardiorespiratory fitness) at baseline to have significant odds ratios related to the outcome of becoming dependent. Controlling for other factors, a lower VO2max increased the odds of dependence by 14% for each mL/kg·min. Conclusion: Lower cardiorespiratory fitness was a significant determinant of becoming dependent in an 8‐year follow‐up of older adults. Initiatives to encourage physical activity in older adults should emphasize exercise, such as brisk walking, to maintain or improve cardiorespiratory fitness.
ISSN:0002-8614
1532-5415
DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52454.x