title: Prevalence, predictors and covariates of functional status impairment among Finnish Second World War veterans during 1992-2004.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  the functional status is one of the most important health measurements in the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of self-reported physical and mental conditions among Finnish Second World War veterans during 1992-2004. We also aimed to study the ability of these conditions in 1992 to predict the functional status impairment in 2004 and to determine whether the worsening of symptoms or the onset of new diseases during 1992-2004 was associated with impaired basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  the study population was 4,999 veterans living in Finland participating in both the Veteran Project 1992 and 2004. Logistic regression models were employed to identify predictors for impaired BADL and IADL. Analyses were conducted separately for men with and without disability and for women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the highest risk estimate for impaired BADL in 2004 was in men without disability who had a neurological disease in 1992 [odds ratios (OR): 5.78, 95% CI: 2.49-13.43], in men with disability with walking difficulties in 1992 (OR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.79-3.25) and in women with a musculoskeletal disease in 1992 (OR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.58-3.62). For impaired IADL, walking difficulties had the highest risk estimate in all veteran groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  mental and physical conditions, especially walking difficulties, can predict veterans' future functional impairment even 12 years in advance, and worsening of these conditions is associated with impaired ADL.
authors.affiliation: Oulu City Hospital, Oulu, Finland. riitta.leskinen@oulu.fi
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leskinen
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laatikainen
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peltonen
authors.forename: Esko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Levälahti
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Antikainen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014728:Veterans; D047789:World War II
keywords: activities of daily living; functional capacity; longitudinal study; older people; war veterans