Authors: E E Chapleski, P A Lichtenberg, J W Dwyer, L M Youngblade, P F Tsai

Publication Year: 1997

Last Updated: 2016-04-18

Journal: The Gerontologist

Keywords: morbidity/comorbidity patterns; functional disability; urban; rural off-reservation; reservation; Great Lakes American Indians; elders; chronic illnesses; Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs); Activities of Daily Living (ADLs); CMI

Abstract:

This article explores patterns of morbidity and comorbidity and their ability to predict functional disability among American Indian elders, using data from a sample of urban, rural off-reservation, and reservation Great Lakes American Indians age 55 and older. Higher rates are reported of a number of chronic illnesses than found in overall samples of U.S. elders. Results of multiple regression analyses predicting Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) show age to be a consistent predictor of functional disabilities: The CMI (Index of Comorbidity) was found to be a more useful predictor of functional disabilities: The CMI (Index of Comorbidity) was found to be a more useful predictor of functional disability than was the simple summation of the number of chronic illnesses.

File Download:

Source: Link to Original Article.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9343909/