[Predictors of houseboundedness among elderly persons living autonomously in a rural community].
OBJECTIVE
The housebound state is a risk factor for disability. This prospective study aimed to determine factors predictive of houseboundedness in the elderly, with an ultimate goal of preventing this condition.


METHODS
A self-report questionnaire pertaining to mental, physical and social status was administered to 732 community-dwelling elderly persons (313 men, 419 women; age range, 65-85 years) in October 2000. All subjects independently performed both basic and instrumental activities of daily living, went out alone for long distances, and did not use long-term care insurance. They were followed up until March 2003. "Housebound" was defined as leaving the house once a week or less. A stepwise multiple logistic regression model, adjusted for age, was used to identity factors predictive of houseboundedness. Data were analyzed on the basis of gender.


RESULTS
By the end of the follow-up period, 14.4% of men and 26.0% of women had become housebound. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis showed that predictive factors for men were lack of frequent contact with friends, neighbors and relatives; symptoms of lower limb pain; and self-assessed weight or muscle loss; and predictive factors for women were lack of frequent contact with friends, neighbors and relatives; lower limb pain; and self-assessed deterioration in health. Limited social contact and the presence of lower limb pain were common predictive factors for houseboundedness in both men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings from this study show that, among autonomous elderly persons, those who are socially isolated or who have physical pain are more likely to become housebound.
Watanabe
Misuzu
M
Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Osaka Medical College.
Watanabe
Takemasa
T
Matsuura
Takamaro
T
Higuchi
Yumi
Y
Shibutani
Takahiro
T
Usuda
Kan
K
Kono
Koichi
K
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D018577:Homebound Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012934:Social Isolation