Background Due to the strong association between old age and the need for long-term care, the number of individuals in need for care is projected to increase noticeably. The aim of this study is to examine determinants of institutionalization nursing home admission among the oldest old longitudinally.
Methods Longitudinal data were gathered from a multicenter prospective cohort study (“Study on Needs, health service use, costs and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest-old primary care patients (85+)”; AgeQualiDe). At baseline (2014), complete measures were available for 684 individuals. The average age was 88.9ys (85-100), 68% were female. Sociodemographic and health-related variables (e.g., depressive symptoms, functioning) were included in the regression model. Institutionalization was defined as a date of admission to a nursing home. Competing risk survival analysis was performed using death as a competing event (Fine and Gray model).
Results During the follow-up of the study, altogether 104 individuals were institutionalized, 81 died. Based on the estimated subhazard ratios, the risk of institutionalization increased with functional decline sHR=0.62, 95% CI [0.56-0.69] in total sample. Moreover, cognitive decline was associated with an increased risk of institutionalization only in men (sHR=1.73, 95%CI [1.05-2.87]).
Conclusions Our findings stress the importance of functional decline (for both sexes) and cognitive decline (only for men) for institutionalization among the oldest old.
Key messages Preventing or at least postponing functional decline might help to delay as far as possible institutionalization.
Background Due to the strong association between old age and the need for long-term care, the number of individuals in need for care is projected to increase noticeably. The aim of this study is to examine determinants of institutionalization nursing home admission among the oldest old longitudinally.
Methods Longitudinal data were gathered from a multicenter prospective cohort study (“Study on Needs, health service use, costs and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest-old primary care patients (85+)”; AgeQualiDe). At baseline (2014), complete measures were available for 684 individuals. The average age was 88.9ys (85-100), 68% were female. Sociodemographic and health-related variables (e.g., depressive symptoms, functioning) were included in the regression model. Institutionalization was defined as a date of admission to a nursing home. Competing risk survival analysis was performed using death as a competing event (Fine and Gray model).
Results During the follow-up of the study, altogether 104 individuals were institutionalized, 81 died. Based on the estimated subhazard ratios, the risk of institutionalization increased with functional decline sHR=0.62, 95% CI [0.56-0.69] in total sample. Moreover, cognitive decline was associated with an increased risk of institutionalization only in men (sHR=1.73, 95%CI [1.05-2.87]).
Conclusions Our findings stress the importance of functional decline (for both sexes) and cognitive decline (only for men) for institutionalization among the oldest old.
Key messages Preventing or at least postponing functional decline might help to delay as far as possible institutionalization.