Maintenance of Physical Function and Related Factors for Community Dwelling Elderly: A Nine-Year Follow-up Study

Abstract

[Purpose] This study was aimed to explore factors related to functional decline of community dwelling elderly from the aspect of activities of daily living in a nine-year follow-up study. [Subjects] The subjects were 141 males and 151 females living in a farming village neighboring a large city in the Chubu District of Japan. [Methods] We investigated the age, sex, and presence/absence of illness, social interaction, and exercise habits of each subject. The baseline study was conducted in 1996 with a follow-up in 2005. The chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationships of independence in physical function with age, sex, and presence/absence of illness, social interaction, and habitual exercise. Analyses were performed using the computer program SAS. [Results] The results of the present study indicate that decline of physical function was related with decline of ability to step up and down. [Conclusion] It seems advisable to provide an intensive program for individuals when they begin to have difficulty stepping up and down (the group at risk). However, the validity of the program identified by the authors has not yet been tested. At the same time, it would be desirable to implement a program prepared on the basis of these findings and evaluate its effectiveness.