BACKGROUND: prevention of disability is an important aim of healthcare for older @entity1 . Selection of @entity1 at risk is a first crucial step in this process. OBJECTIVES: this study investigates the predictive value of multimorbidity for the development of disability in the general population of very old @entity1 and the role of @entity73 in this association. DESIGN: the Leiden 85-plus Study (1997-2004) is an observational prospective cohort study with 5 years of follow-up. SETTING: general population of the city of Leiden, the Netherlands. SUBJECTS: population based sample of 594 @entity1 aged 85 years. METHODS: disability in activities of daily living (ADL) was measured annually for 5 years with the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale (range 9-36, 9 = optimal). Multimorbidity is defined as the presence of two or more @entity102 at age 85 years. Cognitive function was measured at baseline with the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). RESULTS: at baseline @entity1 with multimorbidity had higher @entity717 scores compared with those without [median 11 inter-quartile range (IQR 9-16) versus 9 (IQR 9-13) ADL points, Mann-Whitney U test P < 0.001]. Stratified into four MMSE groups, @entity717 increased over time in all groups, even in @entity1 without multimorbidity (P trend <0.001). Multimorbidity predicted accelerated increase in @entity717 in @entity1 with MMSE of 28-30 points (n = 205, 0.67 points/year, P < 0.001), but not in @entity1 with lower MMSE scores (all P > 0.100). CONCLUSION: the predictive value of multimorbidity for the increase in @entity717 varies with cognitive function in very old @entity1 . In very old @entity1 with good cognitive function, multimorbidity predicts accelerated increase in @entity717 . This relation is absent in very old @entity1 with @entity73 .

The effect of XXXX on the predictive value of multimorbidity for the increase in disability in the oldest old: the Leiden 85-plus Study.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'people', 'persons'] @entity73 :: ('MESH:D003072', 'Disease') :: ['cognitive impairment'] @entity717 :: ('MESH:D009069', 'Disease') :: ['ADL disability'] @entity102 :: ('MESH:D002908', 'Disease') :: ['chronic diseases']
@entity73 :: (MESH:D003072,Disease) :: ['cognitive impairment']
