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Tiredness and Subsequent Disability in Older Adults: The Role of Walking Limitations

¹ Department of Social Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
² Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Copenhagen County, Denmark.
³ Finnish Center for Interdisciplinary Gerontology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
⁴ Department of Geriatric Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Address correspondence to Kirsten Avlund, PhD, DMSc, Department of Social Medicine, Institute of Public Health, 5 Øster Farimagsgade, P.O. Box 2099, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark. E-mail: k.avlund{at}socmed.ku.dk

Background. The purposes of the present study are to analyze whether tiredness in daily activities is associated with subsequent disability among nondisabled older adults and whether this association is mediated by walking limitations.

Methods. The investigation is based on baseline and follow-up data on 419 nondisabled 75-year-old persons in Jyväskylä, Finland, and Glostrup, Denmark. Onset of disability was measured by a validated scale based on seven items: combing hair, washing upper body, washing lower body, using the toilet, dressing upper body, dressing lower body, and cutting fingernails. Tiredness was measured by a validated scale based on the following items: using the toilet, washing and dressing lower body, and cutting toenails. Maximal walking speed was assessed by a 10-meter test.

Results. Tiredness in daily activities was significantly associated with subsequent disability when adjusted for walking limitations.

Conclusion. The present findings indicate that it is important to take it seriously when older persons complain about tiredness, as these people are at higher risk of onset of disability.