Restricted activity days among older adults

The number of restricted activity days experienced by an individual in the course of a year is an important measure of functional well-being, particularly for older adults. We sought to determine multivariate associations between restricted activity days and various health conditions. We used data from the 1984 Supplement on Aging of the National Health Interview Survey to estimate the relationship between restricted activity days and age, gender, and the presence or absence of selected chronic conditions and falls for all noninstitutionalized people aged 65 years and over. Chronic conditions and falls accounted for most of the variance in the model. Of an annual average of 31 restricted activity days, 6 days were associated with falls; 4 days with heart disease; 4 days with arthritis and rheumatism; 2 days each with high blood pressure, cerebrovascular disease, and visual impairment; and 1 day each with atherosclerosis, diabetes, major malignancies, and osteoporosis. These results can be used in estimating the potential impact of health promotion programs on the health status of noninstitutionalized older adults.