Low Co-Morbidity, Low Levels of Malnutrition, and Low Risk of Falls in a Community-Dwelling Sample of 85-Year-Olds Are Associated with Successful Aging: The Octabaix Study

Abstract

The population is aging throughout the world. Preserving physical and cognitive functions is crucial to successful aging. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of 85-year-old community-dwelling subjects aging successfully, applying a quantitative approach, and assessing the association of successful aging with sociodemographic data, global geriatric assessment, and co-morbidity. This was a community-based survey of inhabitants aged 85 years, with 328 out of 487 subjects born in 1924 assigned to seven primary health-care teams, representing a participation rate of 67.5%. Sociodemographic variables, Barthel index (BI), the Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MEC), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Charlson Index, Gait Rating Scale, social risk, quality of life (QoL), and prevalent chronic diseases were assessed. Subjects scoring higher than 90 on the BI and higher than 24 on the MEC were compared with the rest. Multiple regression analysis was performed. Using these criteria, successful aging status was defined in 162 (49.3%) subjects. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, successful agers had significantly lower co-morbidity scores (p < 0.02, odds ratio [OR] = 0.791, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.657-0.952), higher scores on the Gait Rating Scale identifying lower risk of falls (p < 0.0001, OR = 1.753, 95% CI 1.501-2.046), and higher scores on the MNA, indicating lower risk of malnutrition (p < 0.0001, OR = 1.190, 95% CI 1.090-01.299). Regarding QoL, successful agers had significantly higher values than their unsuccessful aging counterparts (p > 0.0001). Almost half of the individuals presented successful aging. Successful agers had less co-morbidity and a lower risk of falls or malnutrition, and they had higher scores on the QoL scale.

Risk of being undernourished in a cohort of community‐dwelling 85‐year‐olds: The Octabaix study

“…These sex differences could be due to the fact that men have better cognitive and functional status at this age. Consequently, they might be less likely to forget to eat meals, prepare meals or have shopping problems . However, this discrepancy is extremely complex and multifactorial …”

“…Consequently, they might be less likely to forget to eat meals, prepare meals or have shopping problems. 17 However, this discrepancy is extremely complex and multifactorial. 28 The bivariate analysis of people at risk of being undernourished shows higher sensory impairment, and lower scores for functional and cognitive capacity.…”

Utility of Geriatric Assessment to Predict Mortality in the Oldest Old: The Octabaix Study 3-Year Follow-Up

“…A total of 328 communitydwelling persons born in 1924 (85 years old at the time of inclusion) who were registered with one of seven primary care teams in the geographical area of Baix Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain, were included; this sample is described in more detail elsewhere. 12,13 In brief, every old inhabitant was interviewed at their home or their health center by a research team with a training in geriatrics. The institutional ethics committee of the local health system approved the design of the study, and all patients, or the caregivers of cognitively impaired subjects, gave their written informed consent before enrollment.…”

Diabetes Mellitus: Prevalence and Effect of Morbidities in the Oldest Old. The Octabaix Study

“…The participation rate was 67.5%, and there were no differences between respondents and nonresponders in terms of sex, healthcare center, or physician in charge. The sampling procedures and data collection methods have been described elsewhere . Participants were examined in their place of residence or at the primary healthcare center if they were ambulatory, in both cases by trained teams (doctors and nurses) with extensive experience in working with elderly adults.…”