J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2008 Mar;47(2):177-182.

Predictors for Change in Disability in Community-Dwelling Elders

• Shin HY
• Shin IS
• Kim JM
• Kim SW
• Yang SJ
• Yoon JS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to identify the predictors for change in disability measured by the Korean version of World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II-K) in community-dwelling elderly population.
METHODS
Of 1204 community participants aged 65 years or over, 717 were reevaluated by WHODAS II-K 2 years later. At baseline, information on demographic characteristics (age, gender, living area, marital status, and religion), socioeconomic status (education, type of accommodation, number of rooms, previous occupation, current employment, and social network), and clinical characteristics (number of physical illness, depression by the Korean version of Geriatric Mental State Schedule B3, and cognitive impairment by Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination) were collected.
RESULTS
Scores on the WHODAS II-K increased by 17.5 in 2 years. Age (B coefficient 0.52, 95% CI: 0.21~0.84), number of rooms (B coefficient -1.92, 95% CI: -3.53~-0.30), and depression (B coefficient 1.84, 95% CI: 0.43~3.25) were independently significant predictors for change in disability.
CONCLUSION
Change in the level of disability measured by the WHODAS II-K was mainly affected by age, number of rooms, and depression. These results can be useful for the development of community-based health promotion program for the elderly.

Keyword

Disability; Elderly; WHODAS II-K; Depression

MeSH Terms

Aged
Appointments and Schedules
Depression
Employment
Health Promotion
Humans
Marital Status
Occupations
Social Class
World Health Organization