Factors Related to Impairment of Activities of Daily Living

Objective We examined the factors related to the impairment of activities of daily living (ADL). Methods ADL was evaluated by using ADL-20, which consists of 20 items from 4 major categories of activities; mobility, self-care, instrumental, and communication. The patients' gender, birth date, clinical diagnosis, past history, life styles, physical findings, laboratory data, and details of therapy were also recorded. Patients A total of 1, 163 outpatients aged 50 years or older were included. Data from 1, 093 patients were analyzed. Results We divided the subjects into two groups; Group I having full marks of ADL-20 (n=582) and group II exhibiting an impairment of ADL (n=511). Multiple logistic analysis revealed that in both sexes age and stroke were common independent factors related to the impairment of ADL. Other factors associated with impairment of ADL were smoking in men and presence of proteinuria in women. The presence of hyperlipidemia was associated with preservation of the ADL in women. Conclusion The results demonstrated significant associations of smoking in men and the presence of proteinuria in women with the impairment of ADL in elderly Japanese outpatients. There appears to be a sex difference in the risk factors of impairment of ADL.(Internal Medicine 38: 698-704, 1999)