[Community investigation of the activities of daily living (ADL) and medical conditions of the elderly in Shanghai].
OBJECTIVE
To study the ADL status and prevalence of medical conditions in aged population in Shanghai, and to analyze the impact of dementia syndrome and other illnesses to ADL performance.


METHODS
Both the Chinese version of ADL scale (five items) and the list of self-reported illnesses questionnaire (32 conditions) were used in the survey. After screening and case-identification, 3745 noninstitutionalized aged residents, who were 65 years and older, were included in the analysis sample. A separate multiple logistic regression model was used in both groups (65-74 years and over-75), observing the effect of age, gender, education and medical conditions (as control variables) on ADL dependence.


RESULTS
The prevalence rate of functional dependence in ADL was 8.28%, and the prevalence curve was doubled steeply along with each ten years. The most prevalent medical conditions (> 20%) were hypertention, heart disease, cataract/glaucoma and artheritis/rheumatism, whereas, dementing disorder was 4.61%. Of all illnesses, stroke, Parkinson's disease, dementia, diabetes and emphysema were the most important predictors of ADL dependence in both aged groups. In the group more than 75 years old, cancer, arteriosclerosis and hypertension seemed to be strongly related to ADL dependence, dementia syndrome was one of the remarkable risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Dementing disorders such as Alzheimer's disease may lead to severe disturbance of ADL performance in the aged, therefore, the community rehabilitative measures and health care services should be stressed by the society to improve the quality of life of the elderly.
Shanghai Mental Health Center.
M
M
Zhang
Z
Z
Zhu
P
P
Chen
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease; D012494:Sampling Studies; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires