Conclusions This review shows that physical frailty indicators can predict ADL disability in community-dwelling elderly people .
Slow gait speed and low physical activity/exercise seem to be the most powerful predictors followed by weight loss , lower extremity function , balance , muscle strength , and other indicators .
Nevertheless , our study suggests that monitoring physical frailty indicators in community-dwelling elderly people might be useful to identify elderly people who could benefit from disability prevention programs
Background Disability in Activities of Daily Living ( ADL ) is an adverse outcome of frailty that places a burden on frail elderly people , care providers and the care system .
Knowing which physical frailty indicators predict ADL disability is useful in identifying elderly people who might benefit from an intervention that prevents disability or increases functioning in daily life .
The objective of this study was to systematic ally review the literature on the predictive value of physical frailty indicators on ADL disability in community-dwelling elderly people .
Predictors of functional change: a longitudinal study of nondemented people aged 65 and older.
OBJECTIVES To identify factors associated with functional change in an older population and investigate interactions among selected potential risk factors . DESIGN A population -based prospect i ve cohort study . SETTING A r and om sample was selected from the Group Health Cooperative members in the Seattle area from 1994 to 1996 and followed biennially . PARTICIPANTS Two thous and five hundred eighty-one people aged 65 and older , cognitively intact at baseline . MEASUREMENTS Functional status was measured by activities of daily living , instrumental activities of daily living , and performance-based physical function testing .  RESULTS The cohort status at the time of these analyses was : deceased , 391 ; withdrawn , 179 ; dementia , 152 ; and on study , 1,873 . The mean follow-up time was 3.4 years . Using linear regressions with Generalized Estimating Equation , selected medical conditions ( diabetes mellitus , hypertension , coronary heart disease , cerebrovascular disease ( CVD ) , osteoporosis , arthritis , and cancer ) , low cognitive function , depression , and smoking were associated with worse functional outcomes .  Exercise and moderate alcohol use were associated with better functional outcomes . Over the follow-up period , coronary heart disease , CVD , and depression were associated with increased rates of functional decline .  Exercise and moderate alcohol consumption were associated with decreased rates of functional decline . Significant interactions were observed between exercise and coronary heart disease , moderate alcohol use and CVD , and cognition and CVD . CONCLUSIONS Our study has identified not only risk factors associated with functional decline but also the interactions among these factors . These observations , along with other published research , add to the growing underst and ing of the underlying process of functional change and could provide a basis to design effective strategies to delay functional decline
Conclusions This review shows that physical frailty indicators can predict ADL disability in community-dwelling elderly people .
Slow gait speed and low physical activity/exercise seem to be the most powerful predictors followed by weight loss , lower extremity function , balance , muscle strength , and other indicators .
Nevertheless , our study suggests that monitoring physical frailty indicators in community-dwelling elderly people might be useful to identify elderly people who could benefit from disability prevention programs
Background Disability in Activities of Daily Living ( ADL ) is an adverse outcome of frailty that places a burden on frail elderly people , care providers and the care system .
Knowing which physical frailty indicators predict ADL disability is useful in identifying elderly people who might benefit from an intervention that prevents disability or increases functioning in daily life .
The objective of this study was to systematic ally review the literature on the predictive value of physical frailty indicators on ADL disability in community-dwelling elderly people .