Factors Associated with Change in Physical Functioning in the Elderly: A Six-Year Prospective Study

This study analyzes risk factors associated with 6-year change in physical functioning for 356 members of the Alameda County Study aged 65 and over. Statistically significant associations were found for baseline age, family income, perceived health, number of chronic conditions, prevalent stroke, prevalent heart attack, exercise, going out, marital status, social networks, depression, and internal health locus of control. Relatively strong (but not statistically significant) associations were found for ethnicity, smoking, and weight. Incident conditions during follow-up that had statistically significant associations with change in function included hip fracture, stroke, serious fall, and heart attack. Controls for prevalent and incident conditions attenuated the associations for only ethnicity, smoking, weight, and marital status. Interventions directed at the risk factors identified here may hold promise for extending independent physical functioning in old age