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. 2015 Sep 25;10(9):e0138901.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138901. eCollection 2015.

Incidence of ADL Disability in Older Persons, Physical Activities as a Protective Factor and the Need for Informal and Formal Care--Results from the SNAC-N Project

Britt-Marie Sjölund  1 , Anders Wimo  2 , Maria Engström  3 , Eva von Strauss  4
Affiliations

Incidence of ADL Disability in Older Persons, Physical Activities as a Protective Factor and the Need for Informal and Formal Care--Results from the SNAC-N Project

Britt-Marie Sjölund et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to examine 1) the incidence of disability in Activities of Daily Living (ADL), in persons 78 years and older 2) explore whether being physical active earlier is a significant predictor of being disability free at follow-up and 3) describe the amount of informal and formal care in relation to ADL-disability.

Methods: Data were used from a longitudinal community-based study in Nordanstig (SNAC-N), a part of the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care (SNAC). To study objectives 1) and 2) all ADL-independent participants at baseline (N = 307) were included; for objective 3) all participants 78 years and older were included (N = 316). Data were collected at baseline and at 3- and 6-year follow-ups. ADL-disability was defined as a need for assistance in one or more activities. Informal and formal care were measured using the Resource utilization in Dementia (RUD)-instrument.

Results: The incidence rates for men were similar in the age groups 78-81 and 84 years and older, 42.3 vs. 42.5/1000 person-years. For women the incidence rate for ADL-disability increased significantly from the age group 78-81 to the age group 84 years and older, 20.8 vs.118.3/1000 person-years. In the age group 78-81 years, being physically active earlier (aOR 6.2) and during the past 12 month (aOR 2.9) were both significant preventive factors for ADL-disability. Both informal and formal care increased with ADL-disability and the amount of informal care was greater than formal care. The incidence rate for ADL-disability increases with age for women and being physically active is a protective factor for ADL-disability.

Conclusion: The incidence rate for ADL-disability increases with age for women, and being physical active is a protective factor for ADL-disability.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: Anders Wimo has been a consultant to most pharmaceutical companies engaged in research on drugs for Alzheimer´s Disease, but he has no shares or employment in these companies. For this study, he has nothing to declare. This does not alter the authors' adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. All the other authors have nothing to declare.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Percentage of participants and drop-outs by causes in the cohort of non-disabled subjects from baseline to 1st and 2nd follow-up.
Distribution by age and gender.
Fig 2
Fig 2. The amount of informal and formal care (mean hours per month).
Distribution by ADL-disability (N = 316).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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