Long-standing and limiting long-standing illness in older people: associations with chronic diseases, psychosocial and environmental factors.
OBJECTIVE
to examine the associations between domains of chronic diseases, social, psychological and environmental factors and long-standing and limiting long-standing illness among older people.


METHODS
cross sectional survey.


METHODS
national sample living in private households.


METHODS
999 adults aged 65 years and over, mean age 73.2 years.


METHODS
self-reports of long-standing illness and limiting long-standing illness.


RESULTS
the prevalence of long-standing illness was 61.8% (95% CI 58.8, 64.9) and that for limiting long-standing illness was 40.0 (95% CI 38.0, 43.0). Strong associations between long-standing illness and circulatory disease, odds ratio: 2.23 (95% CI 1.63, 3.05) and musculoskeletal disorders, odds ratio: 3.21 (95% CI 2.35, 4.39) were found. In addition associations with other domains were observed. For example, feelings of vulnerability, odds ratio: 1.79 (95% CI, 1.28, 2.51) from the psychological domain and, having close relatives living close by, odds ratio: 1.52 (95% CI 1.11, 2.09) from the social domain.


CONCLUSIONS
the importance of considering a wide range of domains of human experience in the causation of limitations in society is emphasised. The currently dominant disease oriented view is insufficient to explain people's reported long-standing illness and limiting long-standing illness.
Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2PR, UK. shah.ebrahim@bristol.ac.uk
Salma
S
Ayis
Rachael
R
Gooberman-Hill
Shah
S
Ebrahim
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012944:Social Support