A co-twin control study of physical function in elderly African America women.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated variables associated with physical functioning limitations among elderly African American women, controlling for genetics and common family environment.


METHODS
Activities of daily living limitations (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living limitations (IADL) are examined in 180 pairs of African American elderly twins using a co-twin control design. The association of chronic disease, other physical problems, lifestyle, and demographic factors with both measures are investigated.


RESULTS
Arthritis, hypertension, and more than 1 chronic disease are associated with ADL limitations and arthritis; diabetes, heart attack, and more than 1 chronic disease are associated with IADL limitations in univariate analyses. In multivariate analyses, a different set of additional variables is associated with the two measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Among elderly African American women, physical functioning limitations are influenced by the presence of chronic diseases, other physical problems, lifestyle, and demographics. These associations are not due to genetics or common family environment effects.
Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
Sylvia E
SE
Furner
Barbara E
BE
Giloth
Lester
L
Arguelles
Toni P
TP
Miles
Jack H
JH
Goldberg
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D044383:Black People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic; D014427:Twins; D014481:United States; D001741:Black or African American