Functional disability and socioeconomic and demographic factors in elderly

Prevalence and correlates of disability in older adults, Ghana: evidence from the Ghana 2021 Population and Housing Census

BACKGROUND

Although there are studies on disabilities in older persons, most of these studies have been carried out in developed countries. Hence, there are limited studies on disability in older adults in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana. The few studies that have examined the prevalence and correlates of disability in older adults used survey data for their analyses. To contribute to addressing this knowledge gap that has arisen, this study used a national census, the 2021 Ghana Population and Housing Census, to examine the prevalence and correlates of disability in older adults in Ghana.

METHODS

The 2021 Ghana Population and Housing Census data was used for this study. A sample size of 197,057 Ghanaians aged 60 years and above was used for this study. The Washington Group questions on disability were used to measure disability by asking older adults about their difficulties in performing the six domains of disability (physical, sight, intellectual, hearing, self-care, and speech). A multinomial logistic regression housed in STATA was used to analyse the correlates of disability in older adults in Ghana. A p-value less than 0.05 was used for statistical significance.

RESULTS

The results show that slightly more than one-third (38.4%) of the older adults were disabled. In terms of the number of disabilities in older adults, 16.9% had one disability condition, while 2.4% had six disability conditions. Also, 9.4% had two disability conditions. Older adults who were females, aged 70-79 years and 80 years and above, resided in rural areas, with primary, JHS/Middle, SHS, unaffiliated with religion, ever married and never married, unemployed, and belonged to the middle and rich households were more likely to have a disability condition. Also, older adults residing in the Middle and Northern zones, having no health insurance, and using clean cooking fuel were less likely to have a disability condition.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that socio-demographic and household factors were associated with disability in older adults in Ghana. Hence, policymakers and researchers should target these factors when designing appropriate policies, programmes, and interventions to improve the wellbeing of older adults.

Number of chronic conditions and associated functional limitations among older adults: cross-sectional findings from the longitudinal aging study in India

Background

Chronic conditions reduce the likelihood of physical functioning among older adults. However, the contribution of most prevalent diseases and multimorbidity to different measures of functional limitations is relatively underexplored among Indian older adults. The present study explores the prospective association between number of chronic conditions and limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) among older adults in India.

Methods

This study utilized data from the nationally representative Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI-2017-18). The effective sample size was 31,464 older adults aged 60 years and above. Descriptive statistics along with cross-tabulation were presented in the study. Additionally, binary logistic regression analysis was used to fulfil the objectives. The outcome variables were dichotomized; high representing no difficulty in ADL/IADL and low representing a difficulty in at least one ADL/IADL. The chronic conditions included hypertension, diabetes, neurological/psychiatric disease, lung disease, heart diseases, stroke, and bone-related disease. The number of chronic diseases was categorized into no disease, single, two and three plus based on number of reported disease.

Results

26.36% of older women and 20.87% of older men had low ADL and the figures for low IADL were 56.86 and 38.84% for older men and women respectively. The likelihood of low ADL (AOR: 1.698, CI:1.544, 1.868) and low IADL (AOR: 1.197; CI: 1.064, 1.346) was higher among womenthan men. With increasing age, the prevalence of low ADL increased among older adults. Respondents with pre-existing chronic conditions had higher likelihood of low ADL and IADL. Older adults with hypertension, psychiatric disease, heart disease, stroke and bone-related disease had significantly higher odds of reporting low IADL. The chances of low ADL and IADL were 2.156 (CI: 1.709, 2.719) and 2.892 (CI: 2.067, 4.047) times respectively higher among older adults with more than three chronic conditions. After controlling for socio-economic and health-related covariates, it was found that men with more than three pre-existing chronic conditions had higher odds of low ADL than women. On the other hand, low IADL were found higher among women with more than three pre-existing chronic conditions.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrates a significant burden of functional limitations among older individuals and that there is a strong association between pre-existing chronic conditions and functional disability. Those with hypertension, diabetes, psychiatric disorders, heart disease, stroke, lung disease or bone-related diseases should be effectively monitored to predict future functional limitations, which may lead to worsening health.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-021-02620-0.

Economic gradient of onset of disability in India

Background

Disability in India is associated with increasing non-communicable diseases, rising longevity, and increasing accidents and injuries. Though studies have examined prevalence, patterns, and socioeconomic correlates of disability, no attempt has been made in estimating age of onset of disability in India.

Objective

This paper investigates the economic gradient of age of onset of locomotor, visual, hearing, speech, mental retardation, mental illness, and other disabilities in India.

Method

We use nationally representative data of 106,894 disabled individuals from the 76th round of National Sample Survey (NSS), 2018. Descriptive statistics, kernel density, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and linear regression models are used in the analysis.

Result

The disability rate in India was 2184 per 100,000 persons. The disability rate was highest for locomotor (1353) followed by hearing (296), visual (234), speech (228), mental retardation (158), and mental illness (131). Over 85% of mental retardation and 80% of speech disabilities occur at birth, while 82% of locomotor and 81% of visual disabilities occur after birth. Among those who had disability after birth, the median age for mental retardation was 2 years followed by mental illness (28 years), speech (29 years), locomotor (42 years), visual (55 years), and 56 years for hearing disability. Adjusting for socioeconomic covariates, the age of onset of locomotor and speech disabilities among the poorest individuals were 7 and 11 years earlier than the richest, respectively.

Conclusion

The economic gradient of onset of locomotive and speech disabilities are strong. The age of onset of disability was earliest for mental retardation followed by mental illness and speech disability.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-10826-5.

Factors associated with functional loss among community-dwelling Mexican older adults

Introduction:

Functional status decline is related to many negative outcomes.

Objective:

To explore the relationship of sociodemographic, medical, and psychological factors with the incidence of functional status decline in Mexican older adults.

Materials and methods:

Data from the 2012 and 2015 waves of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) survey were analyzed. Participants with previous functional status decline at baseline were excluded. We assessed functional status decline individually with activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADLs) in an individual way.

Results:

Age was associated with functional limitations in ADL. Being male had an association with limitations for IADL. A poor financial situation and lower education related to higher limitations for ADL. Furthermore, pain, comorbidities, and depression were found to be independently associated with limitations in ADL. IADL limitation was associated with age, poor education, comorbidities, and depression, as well as cognitive impairment.

Conclusions:

We found that factors such as age, financial status, educational level, pain, and the number of comorbidities were associated with the incidence of functional status decline. Pain had a greater association in the 3-year functional ADL decline incidence when compared with cognitive impairment. Studying functional decline by domains allowed us to find more detailed information to identify factors susceptible to intervention with the aim to reduce the incidence of functional status decline and dependence.

Fatores associados à condição de acamado em idosos brasileiros: resultado da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde, 2013

Resumo Objetivo Identificar os fatores associados à condição de acamado entre idosos brasileiros, analisando-se condições socioeconômicas e de saúde e utilização de serviços de saúde. Método Estudo transversal com dados secundários provenientes da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (2013). Contou com a população de indivíduos com ≥60 anos (n=11.177). A condição de acamado foi considerada variável dependente e as características sociodemográficas, condições de saúde e utilização de serviços médicos como independentes. Foram realizadas análises de regressão logística, e reportada a razão de chance bruta (RCbruta) e ajustada (RCajustada) com o intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%). Resultados Verificou-se que 4,9% dos idosos eram acamados. Essa condição mostrou-se associada ao sexo masculino (RCajustada=1,45; IC95%=1,13-1,84), analfabetismo (RCajustada=1,37; IC95%=1,11-1,70) e quantidade de doenças crônicas, sendo idoso com cinco ou mais doenças crônicas apresentava 4,96 (IC95%=2,78-8,85) mais chances do que os sem doença. As doenças associadas à condição acamado foram: episódio de acidente vascular cerebral (RCajustada=3,03; IC95%=1,29-8,43), diagnóstico de hipertensão arterial sistêmica (RCajustada=1,71; IC95%=1,31-2,24), alterações nos níveis de colesterol (RCajustada=2,08; IC95%=1,37-3,17) e depressão (RCajustada=5,64; IC95%=2,42-13,14). Ainda, idosos que precisaram de atendimento relacionado à própria saúde (RCajustada=16,94; IC95%=7,15-40,16), internamento (RCajustada=8,10; IC95%=4,20-15,54) e atendimento emergencial no domicílio nos últimos 12 meses (RCajustada=1,78; IC95%=4,20-15,54) e que consideraram a condição de saúde geral ruim (RCajustada=2,68; IC95%=2,05-3,51) apresentaram mais chances de ser acamado. Conclusão o estudo permitiu identificar importantes fatores associados à condição acamado de idosos brasileiros com destaque para sexo e escolaridade, as variáveis clínicas de doenças crônicas, e utilização mais frequente de serviços de saúde.

Impacto da dor musculoesquelética na incapacidade funcional

RESUMO O objetivo foi estimar a prevalência de incapacidade para realizar tarefas de vida diária e identificar associação com dor e fatores sociodemográficos. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, com amostra de conveniência, composta por indivíduos que buscaram ativamente assistência à saúde em um município de pequeno porte com queixas de dor musculoesquelética e dificuldades na realização de atividades de vida diária. Compuseram a amostra 766 indivíduos. Foram aplicados questionários para avaliar o grau de dificuldade de realização de atividades de vida diária e dor (Questionário Nórdico de Queixas Musculoesqueléticas e Escala Numérica de Dor). Foram estimadas as prevalências de incapacidade e dor, bem como foram construídos cinco modelos de regressão logística para incapacidade considerando sexo, idade, ocupação e presença e características da dor. Os dados encontrados mostraram que a prevalência de alguma dificuldade para realizar atividades de vida diária foi de 87,6%, de muita dificuldade 66,1%; a de dor musculoesquelética foi de 67,5%. Os indivíduos apresentaram incapacidade para realização de 3,6 atividades de vida diária em média. A dor foi o principal fator de associação para explicá-la (OR 9,9; IC95% 5,9-16,5), seguida da idade. A dificuldade na execução de atividades de vida diária foi associada à dor em membros inferiores, com frequência maior que quatro dias na semana, início há mais de cinco anos e intensidade forte ou insuportável nos episódios de crise. As prevalências de incapacidade e dores foram altas. A dor musculoesquelética e a idade impactaram na incapacidade funcional. Este estudo contribui para direcionar a construção de ações de cuidado que visem minimizar e prevenir dificuldades para realizar tarefas do dia a dia.

Estimativas de expectativa de vida livre de incapacidade funcional para Brasil e Grandes Regiões, 1998 e 2013

Resumo A expectativa de vida aos 60 anos no Brasil aumentou cerca de 9 anos em pouco mais de meio século. Trata-se de um ganho de sobrevida generalizado, mas que também ocorre de forma heterogênica entre as Grandes Regiões do país. Por outro lado, pouco se sabe, ainda, como os aumentos da expectativa de vida aos 60 anos por região podem ser acompanhados por acréscimos ou decréscimos tanto nos anos vividos com incapacidade, quanto nos vividos livre de incapacidade. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar, para 1998 e 2013, aumentos na Expectativa de Vida Total e suas componentes: Expectativa de Vida Livre de Incapacidade Funcional (EVLI) e com Incapacidade Funcional (EVCI), aos 60, 70 e 80 anos para a população do Brasil e Grandes Regiões. O estudo utilizou informações sobre incapacidade funcional da PNAD de 1998 e PNS de 2013 e empregou o método de Sullivan para estimação da EVLI por sexo e idade. No geral, os resultados mostraram que, entre 1998 e 2013, concomitantemente aos ganhos na EV, ocorreu um crescimento na EVLI. Contudo, os ganhos na EVLI não foram estatisticamente significativos para as regiões Norte e Centro-Oeste. Ou seja, com exceção dessas regiões, além de viver mais, a população idosa de 60 anos poderia esperar viver um número maior de anos com saúde.

Contextual income and incidence of disability: results of EpiFloripa Elderly Cohort

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the association between contextual income and the incidence of disability in basic and instrumental activities of daily living.

METHODS

This is a cohort study, with sample of elderly individuals (n = 1,196) residing in Florianópolis, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The incidence of disabilities was evaluated using reports of difficulty or inability to perform six basic activities of daily living and nine instrumental activities of daily living after four years. Contextual income was obtained from the 2010 Census. We conducted multilevel logistic regression analyses with adjustment models for individual variables.

RESULTS

The incidence of disability in basic activities of daily living was 15.8% (95%CI 13.8-17.9) and in instrumental activities of daily living incidence was 13.4% (95%CI 11.6-15.5). We observed significant association between contextual income and incidence of disability in basic activities of daily living. Having as reference the elderly living in the lower income tercile, those who lived in the intermediary terciles and in that of highest income had 37% (95%CI 0.41-0.96) and 21% (95%CI 0.52-1.19) lower chances of developing disability, respectively. For the incidence of disability in instrumental activities of daily living we observed no statistically significant associations.

CONCLUSIONS

Contextual income influences the development of disability in basic activities of daily living in the elderly and should be the subject of actions to reduce socioeconomic inequalities and promote longevity with independence.

Underdiagnosis of delirium in the elderly in acute care hospital settings: lessons not learned

BACKGROUND

Delirium is a common and poorly diagnosed cause of behavioral change in elderly. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, diagnostic accuracy and factors associated with the onset of delirium in the elderly admitted to an urgency unit.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study including clinically stable subjects aged ≥60 years between April and June of 2014. Diagnosis of delirium based on the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM, gold standard) was compared to the subjective assessment made by physicians on duty as recorded in the medical chart. Association of sociodemographic, psychological/behavioural, and clinical variables with delirium was assessed using multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

A sample of 110 participants with a mean age of 72.7 ± 8.3 years was studied. Of these, 56.4% were men and 28.2% had a diagnosis of delirium on CAM. Significant associations were observed between delirium and male gender (P-value = 0.019), poor or very poor self-perception of health (P-value = 0.033), previous diagnosis of dementia (P-value = 0.001), previous history of stroke (P-value = 0.014), and acute bacterial infection (P-value = 0.008). Physician diagnosis had a sensitivity of 35.5%, specificity of 100%, and accuracy of 81.8% to detect delirium. Rate of misdiagnosis was 64.5%.

CONCLUSION

Delirium was underdiagnosed in this urgent care hospital setting.

Functional capacity and reported morbidities: a comparative analysis in the elderly

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the influence of chronic morbidities on the functional capacity of elderly persons living in the municipal region of Herval d’ Oeste, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 272 elderly people registered in the Family Health Strategy of the municipality of Herval d’ Oeste, Santa Catarina. A socio-demographic questionnaire, Katz’s Basic Activities of Daily Living Scale and Lawton’s Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IALD) were used as instruments to gather data. The socio-demographical variables were estimated in frequencies and percentages. The associations were analyzed through the chi-square test. Results: Significant statistical associations for dependence were only found in the IADL assessments. Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus were not found to influence the dependence of the elderly. However, a greater number of elderly persons who reported pathologies of the gastrointestinal system were classified as dependent. While the number of morbidities did not influence dependence in IADL, there was a smaller percentage difference between dependent and independent individuals among those with more than three morbidities. Conclusion: No relationship was found between the number of morbidities and the functional and instrumental capacity of the elderly. However, diseases of the gastrointestinal system demonstrated an influence on the dependence of elderly persons of Herval d'Oeste, Santa Catarina.