[Gender-specific predictors of institutionalisation in the elderly--results of the Leipzig longitudinal study of the aged (LEILA 75+)].
OBJECTIVE
Especially given the different socialization and life conditions of men and women, it could not be assumed that factors leading to nursing home admission (NHA) can be equally applied to both genders. We aimed to determine gender-specific predictors of NHA.


METHODS
Data were derived from the Leipzig Longitudinal Study of the Aged, a population-based study of individuals aged 75 years and older. 1,058 older adults were interviewed six times on average every 1.4 years. Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychometric variables were obtained. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to determine predictors of NHA.


RESULTS
10.3 % of men and 19.5 % of women (p < 0.001) were admitted to nursing home during the study period. The mean time to nursing home was 7.2 years for men and 6.8 years for women. Characteristics associated with a shorter time to NHA were increased age for men and women; cognitive impairment, poor self-rated health status, and less than two specialist's visits in the preceding 12 months for women, and being unmarried, moderate educational status, and hospitalization in the preceding 12 months were predictors of NHA for men.


CONCLUSIONS
Gender differences in prediction of NHA do actually exist. The inclusion of gender-specific factors in design and application of interventions to support individuals at home and delay or prevent NHA appears to be warranted.
Luppa
Melanie
M
Public Health Research Unit, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig. Melanie.Luppa@medizin.unileipzig.de
Gentzsch
Katrin
K
Angermeyer
Matthias C
MC
Weyerer
Siegfried
S
König
Hans-Helmut
HH
Riedel-Heller
Steffi G
SG
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015161:Dementia, Multi-Infarct / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009735:Nursing Homes; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012951:Socialization; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors