Older adults' perceptions of their health and functioning in relation to sleep disturbance, falling, and urinary incontinence.FICSIT Group.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate variation in older adults' perceived health and functioning that is associated with self-reported sleep disturbance, falling, and urinary incontinence, controlling for self-reported depression, ambulation difficulty, number of chronic conditions, and subjects' sociodemographic characteristics.


METHODS
Multicenter prospective study (FICSIT).


METHODS
Persons age 70 and older living in the community evaluated at baseline.


METHODS
239 women, 113 men; mean age = 77.


METHODS
Sleep disturbance score based on EPESE questions, recent falls history (Y/N), incontinent episodes (Y/N), CES-D score, SIP Ambulation score, and 4 MOS SF-36 scale scores.


RESULTS
Women were significantly more likely than men to report multiple conditions (sleep disturbance, falling, incontinence) and to report lower levels of functioning as measured by 3 of 4 SF-36 scales. In regression analyses, sleep disturbance and urinary incontinence were significant predictors of perceived limitations in usual role activities because of physical health problems. Depression and ambulation measures significantly predicted scores on all 4 SF-36 scales.


CONCLUSIONS
Our analysis suggests that it is important to address depressive symptomatology and ambulation difficulty--which in turn are related to sleep disturbance, falling, and urinary incontinence--in efforts to enhance older adults' perceived health and functioning.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.
N G
NG
Kutner
K B
KB
Schechtman
M G
MG
Ory
D I
DI
Baker
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012937:Social Mobility; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000523:psychology*; D016138:Walking