title: Impact of the 26 December 2003 Bam Earthquake on activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living of older people.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study compares self-reported Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) status among elderly survivors of the 2003 Bam Earthquake before, two months after, and five years after the event, and explores related determinants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-stage cluster survey was conducted on 210 elderly survivors in the earthquake-stricken area five years after the event.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both ADL and IADL scores decreased two months after earthquake compared to prior status (p <0.001). No differences were observed between two months and five years after the event (p >0.05). Access to medical services were not related to level of ADL or IADL (p = 0.52 and p = 0.74, respectively). Elderly survivors with lower functional capability in terms of ADL experienced more problems in access to relief items (p = 0.04), but no similar association was found for IADL (p = 0.26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Bam earthquake adversely affected functional capacity of the elderly. Disaster responders must take into account functional capacity of elders when planning for medical and relief operations.
authors: Health in Emergencies and Disasters Department, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. aardalan@gmail.com
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Ardalan
authors: Monir
authors: M
authors: Mazaheri
authors: Hani
authors: H
authors: Mowafi
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Vanrooyen
authors: Fariba
authors: F
authors: Teimoori
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Abbasi
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male