Morbidity of Tokyo-area centenarians and its relationship to functional status.
BACKGROUND
Research in Western countries has shown most centenarians to be survivors with multiple comorbidities. However, Japanese centenarians' morbidity and its relationship to functional status has yet to be elucidated. The aim of this study is to clarify the association of morbidity with the physical and cognitive function of centenarians. We examined Tokyo-area centenarians to determine their kinds of morbidity profiles and how such morbidity related to their functional status.


METHODS
We studied 302 centenarians living in Tokyo (101.2+/-1.8 years; 65 men, 237 women), and assessed their physical status, morbidity, and use of medication. Activities of daily living and cognitive function were also assessed using the Barthel Index and the Clinical Dementia Rating.


RESULTS
More than 95% of the centenarians had chronic diseases. Both the physical and cognitive functions were significantly higher in men. The present and previous illnesses most frequently included hypertension, heart disease, stroke, fractures, and cataracts. Fractures were observed significantly more frequently in women. Diabetes mellitus was uncommon. The physical and cognitive function of centenarians with a history of stroke or fracture were particularly poor, whereas those centenarians with hypertension tended to show a high level of physical and cognitive function.


CONCLUSIONS
Almost all centenarians had chronic diseases. Stroke and fracture were correlated with poorer function; therefore, we hypothesize that prevention of stroke and fracture might improve functional status in the oldest-old.
Takayama
Michiyo
M
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, and Health Care Center, Tokyo, 160-8582 Japan. michiyo@sc.itc.keio.ac.jp
Hirose
Nobuyoshi
N
Arai
Yasumichi
Y
Gondo
Yasuyuki
Y
Shimizu
Kenichiro
K
Ebihara
Yoshinori
Y
Yamamura
Ken
K
Nakazawa
Susumu
S
Inagaki
Hiroki
H
Masui
Yukie
Y
Kitagawa
Koji
K
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology; D014041:Tokyo / Q000453:epidemiology