METABOLIC SYNDROME AND DISABILITY IN CHINESE NONAGENARIANS AND CENTENARIANS

Abstract

AbstractMetabolic syndrome (MetS) increases with aging. Little is known about the relationship between MetS and disability in the elderly population, especially in the oldest old. We therefore conducted this study to investigate the possible association between MetS and disability in a population of Chinese nonagenarians and centenarians. Data were obtained from a face-to-face survey conducted in 870 Chinese adults aged 90 years or older. MetS was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disabilities were evaluated using the physical self-maintenance scale and the Lawton-Brody IADL scale, respectively. The subjects included in the current analyses were 500 women and 225 men (mean age: 93.8 ± 3.1 years). MetS was present 13.0% in women and 9.8% in men. In women, the prevalence of ADL and IADL disabilities was significantly higher in the MetS group compared with the non-MetS group (ADL:43.1% vs. 30.6%, p=0.044; IADL: 73.8% vs. 59.8%, p=0.030). After adjusting for relevant confounders, the MetS group showed significantly increased odds ratios (ORs) for either ADL (1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–3.4) or IADL disability (2.1, 95% CI 1.3–4.7) compared with the non-MetS group. In men, similar results were found with respect to the prevalence of ADL or IADL disability and adjusted ORs between MetS and non-MetS groups, but these results were not statistically significant. In conclusion, in our study population, MetS appeared to be associated with an increased risk of either ADL or IADL disability, especially in women.