Trends in Risk of Limitations in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Over Age in Older Persons With and Without Multiple Chronic Conditions

Abstract

Abstract Background To investigate trends over age by comorbidity status for the risk of limitations in individual activities of daily living for community-living older persons. Methods A longitudinal population-based study was conducted in 9,319 community-living Dutch persons aged 60 years and older. Self-reported multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and nine instrumental activities of daily livings (IADLs) were assessed in 15 studies of the Dutch National Care for the Elderly Program (TOPICS-MDS). Risks of limitations in IADLs, odds ratios (per 5 years), and rate ratios (per 5 years) were calculated with mixed logistic and negative binomial regression models with age as the underlying timescale, stratified by number of MCC (no, 1–2, ≥ 3 MCC), and corrected for confounders. Results At inclusion, the number of IADL limitations was highest for the “≥3 MCC” group (2.00 interquartile range [1.00–4.00]) and equal for “no MCC” or “1–2 MCC” (1.00 interquartile range [0.00–2.00]). Trends of individual IADLs depicted a higher risk in IADL limitation with increasing age over 2 years of follow-up, except for handling finances for the “no MCC” group. The longitudinal age effect on IADL limitations varied subject to MCC, being strongest for the “no MCC” group for most IADLs; grooming and telephone use were almost unaltered by age and MCC. Conclusion We observed a decline in IADL functioning with increasing age over 2 years of follow-up in persons with and without MCC. The impact of MCC on IADL decline varied per IADL activity.