The Impact of Multimorbidity and Coronary Disease Comorbidity on Physical Function in Women Aged 80 Years and Older: The Women's Health Initiative

Eileen Rillamas-Sun; Andrea Z LaCroix; Christina L Bell; Kelli Ryckman; Judith K Ockene; Robert B Wallace

doi:10.1093/gerona/glv059

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The Impact of Multimorbidity and Coronary Disease Comorbidity on Physical Function in Women Aged 80 Years and Older: The Women's Health Initiative

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The Impact of Multimorbidity and Coronary Disease Comorbidity on Physical Function in Women Aged 80 Years and Older: The Women's Health Initiative

Eileen Rillamas-Sun, Andrea Z LaCroix, Christina L Bell, Kelli Ryckman, Judith K Ockene and Robert B Wallace

The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, Vol.71 Suppl 1(3), pp.S54-S61

03/2016

DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glv059

PMCID: PMC5865533

PMID: 26858325

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Abstract

A better understanding of medically centered outcomes, such as physical function, for older women with multiple chronic conditions is a national public health priority. The prevalence of multimorbidity (defined as having 2 chronic conditions from a list of 12) and comorbidity with coronary disease (CHD) were calculated for 33,386 women who were enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative since 1993-1998 and were ≥ 80 years old by mid-September 2012. Associations between multimorbidity and CHD comorbidity on RAND-36 physical function scores were estimated using linear regression models. The prevalence of multimorbidity in this sample was 59%. Women with 0-1 chronic condition had a mean physical function score of 74 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 73, 74). Relative decrements in physical function scores were -8 (95% CI: -8, -7), -13 (95% CI: -14, -12) and -19 (95% CI: -20, -18) in women with 2, 3, and ≥ 4 chronic conditions, respectively. Women with CHD in combination with hip fractures or cognitive impairment had the largest adjusted decreases in physical function scores compared to the scores for women with CHD only. The impact of select characteristics on physical function scores between multimorbid and non-multimorbid women were similar; however, overall mean physical functions scores were lower for women with multmorbidity. Multimorbidity profoundly impacted physical functioning in women aged more than 80 years. Modifiable risk factors, such as obesity and physical activity, were similar in older women regardless of multimorbidity status and provide targets for health interventions aimed at preventing loss of late-age physical functioning.

Disability Evaluation

Geriatric Assessment

United States - epidemiology

Prevalence

Women's Health

Comorbidity

Humans

Risk Factors

Survivors - statistics & numerical data

Coronary Disease - physiopathology

Aging - physiology

Health Surveys

Aged, 80 and over

Quality of Life

Female

Health Status

Details

Title: Subtitle: The Impact of Multimorbidity and Coronary Disease Comorbidity on Physical Function in Women Aged 80 Years and Older: The Women's Health Initiative
Creators: Eileen Rillamas-Sun - Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington. erillama@whi.org
Andrea Z LaCroix - Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
Christina L Bell - Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu
Kelli Ryckman - Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health
Judith K Ockene - Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester
Robert B Wallace - Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, Vol.71 Suppl 1(3), pp.S54-S61
DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glv059
PMID: 26858325
PMCID: PMC5865533
NLM abbreviation: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci
ISSN: 1758-535X
eISSN: 1758-535X
Publisher: United States
Grant note: 268201100003C / PHS HHS 268201100046C / PHS HHS 268201100002C / PHS HHS 268201100001C / PHS HHS 268201100004C / PHS HHS 271201100004C / PHS HHS
Language: English
Date published: 03/2016
Academic Unit: Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Epidemiology; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983995135402771

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