title: Self-Reported Hindering Health Complaints of Community-Dwelling Older Persons: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Proactive care for community-dwelling older persons targeting self-reported hindering health complaints might prevent a decline in function. We investigated the spectrum of self-reported hindering complaints of community-dwelling older persons, the association with functional outcomes, and help-seeking behavior for these complaints.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within the ISCOPE trial, participants (aged ≥75 years) received the ISCOPE screening questionnaire, including the open-ended question "At the moment, which health complaints limit you the most in your day-to-day life?". After coding the answers with the ICPC-1-NL, we examined the prevalence and the association between the number and type of complaints and functional outcomes (Groningen Activities Restriction Scale, quality of life measured on Cantril's Ladder, Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale-15, and De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale). Electronic patient registers were searched for the most reported complaints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  7285 participants (median age: 81.0 years [IQR 77.8-85.3], 38.6% males) reported 13,524 hindering complaints (median 1, range 0-18); 32.7% reported no complaints. Participants mostly reported problems with walking/standing (22.1%), pain (20.8%) or weakness/tiredness (8.5%). These complaints were mentioned in the electronic patient registers in 28.3%, 91.3% and 55.5%, respectively. Higher numbers of hindering complaints were related to poorer scores on the number of domains with problems, Cantril's Ladder for quality of life, Groningen Activities Restriction Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, and De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Self-reported weakness, problems with walking/standing, visual limitations, cognitive problems, dyspnea and back complaints were associated with poorer scores on the number of domains with problems, Groningen Activities Restriction Scale, MMSE or Geriatric Depression Scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One third of the participants reported no hindering complaints. Problems with walking/standing, pain, and weakness/tiredness were most reported, but not always found in electronic patient registers. A higher number of, and specific self-reported hindering complaints, were associated with poorer scores on functional outcomes. It may be helpful for general practitioners to ask about these complaints and their influence on daily life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sophie C E
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: van Blijswijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: On Ying A
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anne H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: van Houwelingen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacobijn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gussekloo
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wendy P J
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: den Elzen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeanet W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Blom
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D057566:Self Report; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires