Trajectories of Late-Life Disability Vary by the Condition Leading to Death.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous research suggested that there might be distinct patterns of functional decline in the last years of life depending on the condition leading to death, but the validity of these results and hence the explanatory value of the condition leading to death for late-life disability are uncertain.

Methods

A total of 636 decedents from a cohort of 754 community-living persons, 70+ years of age (Yale PEP Study) provided 33 700 monthly observations of self-/proxy-reported disability during the last 5 years of life. Nonlinear trajectories and short-term fluctuations of late-life disability by condition leading to death (cancer, organ failure, frailty, severe dementia, sudden death, other) were estimated with flexible mixed spline regression models.

Results

Disa

SUBMITTER: Stolz E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8202147 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature