1997 Volume 31 Issue 3 Pages 194-200
The relationship between blood pressure and ADL in elderly people was studied in residents of a nursing home (22 men and 78 women, 85 ± 7 y.o.). We analyzed clinical data and evaluated the ADL at the time of admission to the nursing home and after 1.7 ± 0.4 years. The subjects stayed in the nursing home throughout the follow-up period. The evaluation of ADL was based on Barthel index and ADL20 which was developed especially for elderly people (Jpn J Geriat 29 ; 841, 1992). At entry, blood pressure (BP) was 132±19/75±12 mmHg and ADL scores were 61.2 ± 33.1 by Barthel index (full score : 100) and 24.9±10.9 by ADL20 (full score : 39). Results showed that the higher the BP, the lower were ADL scores, in subjects without history of stroke or fracture. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that higher systolic BP and advanced age were independent factors that relate to impaired ADL. Antihypertensive therapy did not affect ADL scores. During the follow-up period, the ADL scores significantly deteriorated to 48.2±33.3 by Barthel index and 16.8±11.6 by ADL20. BP level at entry did not predict the extent of the deterioration. Instead, the length of the follow-up period significantly correlated with the magnitude of deterioration of ADL.
