Highlights
- •Physical function is a robust predictor of long-term mortality in older men.
- •Older community-dwelling men can experience functional changes over a 3-year time.
- •Repeated functional assessment can provide additional prognostic information.
- •Most prognostic information lays in the final assessment of physical function.
Abstract
Background
Low levels of physical function have been associated with higher mortality hazard
in older persons. However, few studies have investigated the association between functional
changes and subsequent mortality. This study aimed to examine whether 3-year functional
changes independently predict subsequent all-cause mortality.
Methods
This population-based cohort study included 171 community-dwelling men aged ≥71 years at wave 2 (baseline of the present analysis), living in the semi-rural community
of Merelbeke (Belgium). Physical function assessments included the Short Form-36 (SF-36)
Physical Function Index, Grip strength, Chair rising, and Timed Up and Go. Changes
over a 3-year time were calculated using data obtained at four annual visits.
Results
After a 15-year follow-up, 149 men (87%) died. Median survival time was 8.2 (4.2–12.4)
years. Physical function assessed at a single time point (at wave 2 or wave 5) was
significantly associated with subsequent mortality hazard, independently from future
or preceding 3-year changes. Greater functional declines during the 3-year follow-up
were associated with higher mortality hazards. These associations were 1) more pronounced
within the first seven years, 2) independent from baseline age, polypharmacy, depression,
disability, and physical function, and 3) no longer significant when closure physical
function was taken into account.
Conclusion
Physical function assessed at a single time point is a robust predictor of all-cause
long-term mortality in community-dwelling older men. Yet, repeated assessments of
physical function can provide prognostic information beyond that available from single
initial assessment. However, with repeated assessments, most prognostic information
can be found in the final assessment of physical function.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 03, 2016
Accepted:
June 7,
2016
Received in revised form:
May 27,
2016
Received:
March 29,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
