Age-specific prevalence and risk factors for severe activity of daily living disability among older adults residing in long-term care facilities in Korea: A cross-sectional study using first year of a longitudinal study

Purpose This study examined age-specific prevalence and associated factors of activities of daily living (ADL) disability. Methods This cross-sectional analysis used first-year data from a longitudinal study. Participants were 564 older adults residing in nursing homes or long-term care hospitals. Data were analyzed using chi-square test and logistic regression. Results The mean age of the participants was 83.58 years, and 65.4% had severe ADL disability. Severe ADL disability was significantly associated with being female in the young- old group (odds ratio [OR]=4.18, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=1.04~16.83); incontinence (OR=3.22, 95% CI=1.58~6.55), dietary change (OR=4.74, 95% CI=1.47~15.26), low calf circumference (OR=3.09, 95% CI=1.10~8.66), suspected cognitive impairment (OR=3.27, 95% CI=1.35~7.96), and long-term care hospital residence (OR=2.41, 95% CI=1.09~5.36) in the mid-old group; and incontinence (OR=3.87, 95% CI=2.13~7.05), low calf circumference (OR=6.38, 95% CI=2.65~15.34), suspected cognitive impairment (OR=2.24, 95% CI=1.02~4.94), and long-term care hospital residence (OR=3.04, 95% CI=1.42~6.54) in the old-old age group. Conclusion Findings highlight the need for age-specific management strategies: muscle strengthening and exercise programs for young-old females, integrated and simultaneous management for the mid-old, and strategies to maintain core physiological functions for the old-old. These findings support long-term care policies and contribute to developing care systems in an aged society.