title: Impact of cardiovascular diseases on activity limitations and need for help among older persons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to estimate the importance of specific chronic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) as determinants of disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand two hundred eighty-eight (86%) participants from a random population sample of 1,500 individuals (from two geographical regions of Finland) aged 65-74 years were interviewed and clinically examined in 1997.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CVDs were strongly associated with disability. However, mental disorders were the strongest determinant of disability. Of specific CVDs, cerebrovascular diseases in men, and myocardial infarction, heart failure, and cerebrovascular diseases in women were significantly associated with disability after adjustment for age and comorbidity. In men 33% and in women 24% of disability was attributable to CVD, excluding lone hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CVDs are important determinants of disability among Finns aged 65-74 years. Due to the growing number of elderly people with CVDs, disability associated with these diseases is likely to become a growing social and health burden to the community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Functional Capacity, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland. anna.kattainen@ktl.fi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kattainen
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koskinen
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reunanen
authors.forename: Tuija
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martelin
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knekt
authors.forename: Arpo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aromaa
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005783:Gender Identity; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology