title: Gender-related differences in scores of the Barthel Index and Frenchay activities index in randomly sampled elderly persons living at home in Japan.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine for gender-related differences in activities of daily living (ADL) and lifestyle of elderly persons living at home, and to support our hypothesis that the gender-related difference in lifestyle of stroke patients derives from their lifestyle prior to the stroke. Participants were randomly sampled elderly persons living at home. Questionnaire sheets including subject profile, Self-Rating Barthel Index (disability index), and Self-Rating Frenchay Activities Index (activity index) were mailed and collected, and the data were analyzed with the t-test and General Linear Model (factorial model with interaction). A total of 752 subjects were recruited, and their average age was 67.1 years. No significant gender-related differences were evident in the disability index including self-care and mobility domains (t-test, P > 0.05). In contrast gender-related differences in the activity index were significant (t-test, P < 0.05) for three factors; gender, age group, and living conditions, and in a covariate disability index (GLM, P < 0.05). Because randomly selected elderly persons in this study exhibited a prominent gender-related difference in lifestyle, we believe the lifestyle difference in stroke patients that we have previously described derives primarily from their premorbid attitude to daily life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi, Kitakyushu, Japan. kenhachi@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hachisuka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saeki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chisaka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negayama
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population