Disability in basic activities of daily living is associated with symptom burden in older people with advanced cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A secondary data analysis.

Abstract Context Managing activities of daily living is important to people with advanced cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Understanding disability in activities of daily living may inform service planning. Objective To identify the prevalence of disability in activities of daily living, associations and change over time, in older people with advanced cancer or COPD. Methods Secondary analysis of International Access, Rights and Empowerment (IARE) studies in adults aged ≥65 years with advanced disease in the UK, Ireland, and USA. Cross-sectional (IARE I & II) and longitudinal (IARE II, 3 timepoints over 6-months) data. Measures: disability in activities of daily living (Barthel Index), symptom severity (Palliative Outcome Scale), assistive device use (self-reported). Logistic regression was used to identify relationships between disability and age, sex, living alone, diagnosis, and symptom burden; Visual Graphical Analysis explores individual disability trajectories. Results 159 participants were included (140 cancer, 19 COPD). 65% had difficulty climbing stairs, 48% bathing, 39% dressing, 36% mobilising. Increased disability was independently associated with increased symptom burden (odds ratio [OR], 1.08 [95% CI:1.02-1.15], p=0.01) and walking unaided (z=2.35, p=0.02), but not with primary diagnosis (z=-0.47, p=0.64). Disability generally increased over time but with wide inter-individual variation. Conclusion Disability in activities of daily living in advanced cancer or COPD is common, associated with increased symptom burden, and may be attenuated by use of assistive devices. Individual disability trajectories vary widely, with diverse disability profiles. Services should include rehabilitative interventions, guided by disability in individual activities of daily living.