Key result
In 85-year-olds with good cognitive function, multimorbidity predicted an accelerated increase in ADL disability (0.67 points/year, P<0.001), a relationship absent in those with cognitive impairment.
Why the study?
Does multimorbidity predict an increase in ADL disability in very old people, and does cognitive impairment affect this association?
Cohort (n=594)
No
Does multimorbidity predict an increase in ADL disability in very old people, and does cognitive impairment affect this association?
p-value: p=<0.001
In very old people, multimorbidity predicts an accelerated increase in ADL disability only in those with good cognitive function, but not in those with cognitive impairment.
Multimorbidity may accelerate functional decline only in cognitively intact 85-year-olds; hypothesis-generating and requires longitudinal confirmation before informing care.
BACKGROUND: prevention of disability is an important aim of healthcare for older persons. Selection of persons at risk is a first crucial step in this process. OBJECTIVES: this study investigates the predictive value of multimorbidity for the development of disability in the general population of very old people and the role of cognitive impairment in this association. DESIGN: the Leiden 85-plus Study (1997-2004) is an observational prospective cohort study with 5 years of follow-up. SETTING: general population of the city of Leiden, the Netherlands. SUBJECTS: population based sample of 594 participants aged 85 years. METHODS: disability in activities of daily living (ADL) was measured annually for 5 years with the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale (range 9-36, 9 = optimal). Multimorbidity is defined as the presence of two or more chronic diseases at age 85 years. Cognitive function was measured at baseline with the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). RESULTS: at baseline participants with multimorbidity had higher ADL disability scores compared with those without [median 11 inter-quartile range (IQR 9-16) versus 9 (IQR 9-13) ADL points, Mann-Whitney U test P < 0.001]. Stratified into four MMSE groups, ADL disability increased over time in all groups, even in participants without multimorbidity (P trend <0.001). Multimorbidity predicted accelerated increase in ADL disability in participants with MMSE of 28-30 points (n = 205, 0.67 points/year, P < 0.001), but not in participants with lower MMSE scores (all P > 0.100). CONCLUSION: the predictive value of multimorbidity for the increase in ADL disability varies with cognitive function in very old people. In very old people with good cognitive function, multimorbidity predicts accelerated increase in ADL disability. This relation is absent in very old people with cognitive impairment.
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Drewes et al. (2011) conducted a cohort in Disability in activities of daily living (n=594). Multimorbidity vs. No multimorbidity was evaluated on Increase in ADL disability over time (p=<0.001). In 85-year-olds with good cognitive function, multimorbidity predicted an accelerated increase in ADL disability (0.67 points/year, P<0.001), a relationship absent in those with cognitive impairment.
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