Activities of daily living studied longitudinally between 70 and 76 years of age.

Functional performance, i.e. personal and instrumental activities of daily living (P-ADL, I-ADL), was studied in a population of 70-year-old persons followed to the age of 76, and with an intervention period included between the ages of 70 and 73. At age 70 (n = 617), 83% were independent, 13% were dependent in I-ADL and 4% dependent in I+P-ADL. Among the independent subjects, the 6-year outcome in mortality was 13%. Dependence at 70 predicted mortality as well as institutionalization, and the risk was higher for those dependent in P+I-ADL than for persons dependent in I-ADL only. Of participant survivors the incidence of disability was 30% (8% between 70 and 73, 26% between 73 and 76 years of age) and was dominated by dependence in I-ADLs. The intervention did not lead to less dependence in ADL at age 76. Gender differences were found at age 76 in cooking, bathing and dressing, males being more dependent in such activities. At 70, 73 and 76 years of age, assistance given by relatives dominated.