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Temporal trends in self-reported functional limitations and physical disability among the community-dwelling elderly population: the Framingham heart study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Murabito, JM; Pencina, MJ; Zhu, L; Kelly-Hayes, M; Shrader, P; D'Agostino, RB
Published in: Am J Public Health
July 2008

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine change in the prevalence of functional limitations and physical disability among the community-dwelling elderly population across 3 decades. METHODS: We studied original participants of the Framingham Heart Study, aged 79 to 88 years, at examination 15 (1977-1979; 177 women, 103 men), examination 20 (1988-1990; 159 women, 98 men) and examination 25 (1997-1999; 174 women, 119 men). Self-reported functional limitation was defined using the Nagi scale, and physical disability was defined using the Rosow-Breslau and Katz scales. RESULTS: Functional limitations declined across examinations from 74.6% to 60.5% to 37.9% (P < .001) among women and from 54.2% to 37.8% to 27.8% (P<.001) among men. Physical disability declined from 74.5% to 48.5% to 34.6% (P < .001) among women and 42.3% to 33.3% to 22.8% (P = .009) among men. Among women, improvements in functional limitations (P = .05) were greater from examination 20 to 25, whereas for physical disability (P=.02), improvements were greater from examination 15 to 20. Improvements in function were constant across the 3 examinations in men. CONCLUSIONS: Among community-dwelling elders, the prevalence of functional limitations and physical disability declined significantly in both women and men from the 1970s to the 1990s. This may in part be due to improvements in technological devices used to maintain independence. Further work is needed to identify the underlining causes of the decline so preventative measures can be established that promote independence for the elderly population.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Am J Public Health

DOI

EISSN

1541-0048

Publication Date

July 2008

Volume

98

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1256 / 1262

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Time Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sex Distribution
  • Self Care
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Public Health
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Physical Fitness
  • Male
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Murabito, J. M., Pencina, M. J., Zhu, L., Kelly-Hayes, M., Shrader, P., & D’Agostino, R. B. (2008). Temporal trends in self-reported functional limitations and physical disability among the community-dwelling elderly population: the Framingham heart study. Am J Public Health, 98(7), 1256–1262. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.128132
Murabito, Joanne M., Michael J. Pencina, Lei Zhu, Margaret Kelly-Hayes, Peter Shrader, and Ralph B. D’Agostino. “Temporal trends in self-reported functional limitations and physical disability among the community-dwelling elderly population: the Framingham heart study.Am J Public Health 98, no. 7 (July 2008): 1256–62. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.128132.
Murabito JM, Pencina MJ, Zhu L, Kelly-Hayes M, Shrader P, D’Agostino RB. Temporal trends in self-reported functional limitations and physical disability among the community-dwelling elderly population: the Framingham heart study. Am J Public Health. 2008 Jul;98(7):1256–62.
Murabito, Joanne M., et al. “Temporal trends in self-reported functional limitations and physical disability among the community-dwelling elderly population: the Framingham heart study.Am J Public Health, vol. 98, no. 7, July 2008, pp. 1256–62. Pubmed, doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.128132.
Murabito JM, Pencina MJ, Zhu L, Kelly-Hayes M, Shrader P, D’Agostino RB. Temporal trends in self-reported functional limitations and physical disability among the community-dwelling elderly population: the Framingham heart study. Am J Public Health. 2008 Jul;98(7):1256–1262.

Published In

Am J Public Health

DOI

EISSN

1541-0048

Publication Date

July 2008

Volume

98

Issue

7

Start / End Page

1256 / 1262

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Time Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sex Distribution
  • Self Care
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Public Health
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Physical Fitness
  • Male