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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Felicity DewhurstORCiD, Dr Matthew Dewhurst, Dr Catherine DotchinORCiD, Dr Stella Paddick, Professor Richard Walker
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Methods: we performed a community-based study of people aged 70 years and over in Hai, Tanzania. Participants underwent disability assessment using the culturally non-specific Barthel index (BI), and also clinical assessment for neurological disorders and memory problems. Results: in 2,232 participants, the age-adjusted prevalence of severe disability (BI < 15) was 3.7% (95% CI: 2.9-4.5) and the age-adjusted prevalence of moderate disability (BI: 15-18) was 6.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 5.2-7.2]. Increasing age, female gender, memory problems and the presence of neurological disorders were all independent predictors of the presence of disability. Conclusion: in this study, the average disability level was lower than seen in most high-income countries. This may reflect increased mortality from disabling disease in low-income countries. Disability is likely to increase as the population of low-income countries ages and disease survival improves.
Author(s): Dewhurst F, Dewhurst MJ, Gray WK, Orega G, Howlett W, Chaote P, Dotchin C, Longdon AR, Paddick SM, Walker RW
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Age and Ageing
Year: 2012
Volume: 41
Issue: 4
Pages: 517-523
Print publication date: 19/04/2012
ISSN (print): 0002-0729
ISSN (electronic): 1468-2834
Publisher: Oxford University Press
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afs054
DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afs054
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