Age and gender differences in the relation of chronic diseases to activity of daily living (ADL) disability for elderly South Koreans: based on representative data.

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the gender and age differential effect of major chronic diseases on activity of daily living (ADL) disability. METHODS Surveyfreq and Surveylogistic regression analyses were employed on the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) with a sample of 3609 persons aged 65-89. RESULTS After adjusting for potential covariates, stroke, among elderly men more so than women, had a 2-3 times greater odds of engendering ADL disability in the 65-69 (p < 0.05) and 70-79 age groups (p < 0.01). In comparison to elderly women, cancer, diabetes, and incontinence in elderly men was associated with a higher risk of ADL disability in the 70-79 age group (p < 0.05), and this association was also observed for pulmonary disease in the 80-89 age group. Among elderly women, however, a significant association between incontinence and ADL disability was identified in all three age groups. In addition, this association was found in pulmonary disease and diabetes in elderly women aged 70-79 years. Significant gender differences were observed in the association between stroke in the 60-79 age group and cancer in the 70-79 age group. CONCLUSIONS Age and gender differences were observed in the effect of chronic diseases on ADL disability.