Two-years changes in ADL among community-dwelling frail elderly subjects : a comparative study of the characteristics with or without mobility limitations and cognitive dysfunction

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe two-years changes in activities of daily living (ADL) among community-dwelling frail elderly people using the Japanese long-term care insurance system. In this 2-year longitudinal study, data were collected from 472 noninstitutionalized frail elderly persons aged 65 years or older. By functional limitation and cognitive dysfunction, the subjects were classified into 4 types: moderate dysfunction group, severe functional limitation group, severe cognitive dysfunction group, or severe dysfunction group. Changes of score on ADL were seen from the baseline to the follow-up survey. The patterns of the ADL decline were different between four groups. Severe cognitive dysfunction group was more likely to decline in ADL than moderate dysfunction and functional limitation groups. Functional limitation and cognitive dysfunction were related to ADL decline. These findings suggested that intervention programs for prevention of becoming ADL disabled should be more intensively targeted among frail elderly people with cognitive dysfunction.