Tiredness in daily activities: a subjective measure for the identification of frailty among non-disabled community-living older adults.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Tiredness in daily activities: a subjective measure for the identification of frailty among non-disabled community-living older adults.

AU - Schultz-Larsen, Kirsten

AU - Avlund, Kirsten

N1 - Keywords: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Fatigue; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Frail Elderly; Health Status; Humans; Male; Prospective Studies; Residence Characteristics; Socioeconomic Factors; Survival Rate

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - The objective of this study was to determine whether the responses to questions about tiredness in daily activities is an early subjective sign of frailty indicating older community-living adults at increased risk for disability and mortality. Tiredness in daily activities as measured by the Mob-T Scale, maximal power in sustained work, and comorbid diseases were assessed together with sociodemographic variables in a sample of 705 non-disabled, 70-year old men and women surveyed in 1984. Vital status of members was determined prospectively over the next 15 years. Onset of disability was measured at 5-, 10-, and 15-year follow-up. Onset of disability among non-disabled 70-year old men and women was strongly related to tiredness in daily activities at 5- and 10-year follow-up. Scores on the Mob-T Scale were significantly associated with mortality during the aggregate 15-year follow-up period. Multiple stepwise regression analyses not only indicated that tiredness in daily activities is a strong independent predictor of both disability and mortality, but also that tiredness mediates the effects of comorbidity and maximal power in sustained work on disability/mortality. Self-reported tiredness in daily activities is suggested as a basis for identifying vulnerable frail subsets of older adults requiring targeted strategies for prevention.

AB - The objective of this study was to determine whether the responses to questions about tiredness in daily activities is an early subjective sign of frailty indicating older community-living adults at increased risk for disability and mortality. Tiredness in daily activities as measured by the Mob-T Scale, maximal power in sustained work, and comorbid diseases were assessed together with sociodemographic variables in a sample of 705 non-disabled, 70-year old men and women surveyed in 1984. Vital status of members was determined prospectively over the next 15 years. Onset of disability was measured at 5-, 10-, and 15-year follow-up. Onset of disability among non-disabled 70-year old men and women was strongly related to tiredness in daily activities at 5- and 10-year follow-up. Scores on the Mob-T Scale were significantly associated with mortality during the aggregate 15-year follow-up period. Multiple stepwise regression analyses not only indicated that tiredness in daily activities is a strong independent predictor of both disability and mortality, but also that tiredness mediates the effects of comorbidity and maximal power in sustained work on disability/mortality. Self-reported tiredness in daily activities is suggested as a basis for identifying vulnerable frail subsets of older adults requiring targeted strategies for prevention.

U2 - 10.1016/j.archger.2006.03.005

DO - 10.1016/j.archger.2006.03.005

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 17095107

SN - 0167-4943

VL - 44

SP - 83

EP - 93

JO - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics

JF - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics

IS - 1

ER -