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. 2020 Jun/Jul;32(5-6):352-360.
doi: 10.1177/0898264318822364. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Risk Profiles for Care Dependency: Cross-Sectional Findings of a Population-Based Cohort Study in Germany

Susanne Schnitzer  1 , Stefan Blüher  1 , Andrea Teti  1 , Elke Schaeffner  1 , Natalie Ebert  1 , Peter Martus  2 , Ralf Suhr  3 , Adelheid Kuhlmey  1
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Risk Profiles for Care Dependency: Cross-Sectional Findings of a Population-Based Cohort Study in Germany

Susanne Schnitzer et al. J Aging Health. 2020 Jun/Jul.

Abstract

Background: Rising life expectancy in Western societies is accompanied by a rising incidence of care dependency (CD) among older people. Objective: The aim of the study was to examine which health-related and social determinants were associated with CD. Method: We used cross-sectional data from the first follow-up (N = 1,699) of a prospective, population-based cohort study of older participants (≥70 years). CD was assessed if participants required substantial assistance in at least two activities of daily living for 90+ minutes daily. Multivariate logistic regressions were applied. Results: Participants' mean age was 82 years; 18.9% were care-dependent. CD was significantly associated with older age, urinary incontinence, stroke, falls, cancer, diabetes, education level, having no partner, limited mobility, and limited physical activity. Discussion: Our research highlights the importance of promoting mobility, even in care-dependent people. Further research should investigate the role of partnership in terms of the prevention and delay of CD.

Keywords: care dependency risk; mobility; old age; partnership status; physical activity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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