Physical functioning, health and survival: a ten-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
Cutbacks in human resources are putting home care personnel under increasing pressure in their work. Home health care personnel need to know how they can prevent undesirable conditions and support older people towards successful aging. The aim of this ten-year follow-up study was to identify factors associated with increased mortality among 70-year-old subjects living in the community.


METHODS
Data were collected in 1991 by a postal questionnaire sent to all residents of Turku, Finland, born in 1920. A physical examination was also conducted. Ten years later, in 2001, the mortality rate of this population was determined. The data were examined statistically.


RESULTS
Many health-related factors, such as smoking, poor subjective health, and mobility, were related to an increased level of mortality. In addition, several diseases (e.g., diabetes, angina pectoris, cancer) at age 70 were associated with increased mortality over ten years. Difficulties in daily activities at age 70 also increased the risk of mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings offer useful clues for planning health care services and preventive interventions provided by home health care personnel. Home health care personnel should give special attention to older people who feel ill or very ill.
Arve
Seija
S
Turku City Hospital, Kunnallissairaalantie 20, FIN-20700 Turku, Finland. seija.arve@turku.fi
Savikko
Niina
N
Lavonius
Sirkku
S
Lehtonen
Aapo
A
Isoaho
Hannu
H
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis