Association between Fitness and Performance of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Elderly Women

Abstract

PURPOSE: to examine the association between fitness variables and the performance on Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) in elderly women. METHODS: A total of 928 elderly women (mean age = 69.2 ± 6.1 years, ranging from 60 to 88 years) were studied. Subjects were non-institutionalized and currently enrolled in leisure programs for the elderly. IADL was denned by the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living questionnaire proposed by Lawton and Brody (1969). Fitness variables were obtained using the following tests: 6 min walk test (6MW), Arm Curl test (AC), 30 sec chair stand (30SCS), chair sit-and-reach (CSR) and 8 Foot Up and Go (8FUG) proposed by Rikli e Jones (1999); Berg balance scale (BBS), proposed by Berg et al, (1992), isometric strength using handgrip dynamometry, and maximal dynamic strength using 1-RM on bench press. Fitness variables were categorized into quartiles to obtain Odds Ratios (OR). Performance on IADL was categorized was independent (score of 17) or partially independent (score < 17). Logistic regression analysis was used to predict performance on IADL from the fitness predictors, adjusting for age. RESULTS: Balance, handgrip strength, maximal dynamic strength and age were significant predictors of performance on IADL. The highest-versus-lowest quartile comparisons for the BBS obtained an OR = 1.717 (95% CI= 1.112 – 2.650); for handgrip strength, OR = 1.676 (95% CI = 1.051 – 2.673), p < 0.05. The comparison between the highest-versus-lowest quartile for Maximal dynamic strength obtained OR = 1.944 (95% CI = 1.239 – 3.050), and highest-versus-second lowest quartile, OR = 1.816 (95% CI = 1.140 – 2.891), p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: Balance, handgrip strength, maximal dynamic strength, independent of age, were predictors of performance in IADL in this population of elderly women.