Impact of Geriatric Conditions Versus Medical Diagnoses on ADL Disability Among Nonagenarians and Centenarians

Abstract

Objective: The authors investigated the relationship of activities of daily living (ADL) disability with medical diseases and geriatric conditions among nonagenarians and centenarians. Method: Cross-sectional, n = 870 Chinese (age range: 90-108 years). Self-reported medical diseases and geriatric-specific conditions were obtained by face-to-face interviews. Biomedical measurements included systolic/diastolic blood pressure, BMI (body mass index), albumin, fasting glucose, creatinine clearance, hemoglobin, and lipid panel. Results: In bivariate analyses, 4 of 7 geriatric conditions (hearing problems, falls, cognitive impairment, fracture), and 6 of 11 biomedical measurements (fasting glucose, cholesterol, LDL, creatinine clearance, hemoglobin, albumin), but none of 10 medical diseases and no degree of comorbidities, were associated with ADL disability. In four different multivariate logistic regression models, two geriatric conditions (impaired cognition, fracture) were significant in three models, respiratory disease in one model, and fasting glucose in two models. Discussion: This study emphasizes the importance of geriatric conditions and their association with ADL disability among the oldest-old adult population.