Dependence in instrumental activities of daily living and its associations with other geriatric syndromes in people over 65 years of age: data from the Russian epidemiological study EUCALYPT

Abstract

Aim – to assess the frequency of disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and to analyze its associations with other geriatric syndromes in persons aged ≥65 years. Material and methods. The study involved 4,308 people (30% male) living in 11 regions of the Russian Federation, aged 65 to 107 years (average age 78 ± 8 years). The majority (60%) of participants were examined in a polyclinic, every fifth – in a hospital (20%) or at home (19%), 1% – in nursing homes. All patients underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, including an assessment of instrumental activities of daily living on the Lawton scale. Results. Among the elderly, a high (54%) prevalence of dependence in IADLs was revealed, and with increasing age, this indicator increased significantly, reaching 82% in people over 85 years old. In patients with disability in IADLs, the frequency of all geriatric syndromes, except orthostatic hypotension, was higher, of which the most common were chronic pain syndrome (90%), frailty (80%), dependence in basic activities of daily living (ADLs) (78%), cognitive impairment (75%), probable depression (63%) and urinary incontinence (54%). One-factor regression analysis showed that the presence of disability in IADLs increases the chances of detecting other geriatric syndromes by 1.6–5.9 times. Conclusion. The results of the EUCALYPT epidemiological study demonstrate a high prevalence of dependence in IADLs among the Russian population. The study also gives an idea of the relationship of dependence in IADLs with various geriatric syndromes.

Keywords

• instrumental activities of daily living
• frailty
• geriatric syndromes
• older adults
• dependence in basic activities of daily living
• geriatric assessment