Ageing and Functional Disability: An Unbreakable Bond

This study aimed to assess the predominant predictors of functional disability in terms of involvement of activity of daily living (ADL) of urban geriatric subjects of Varanasi, India. This community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken on 616 urban geriatric subjects, selected through a multistage sampling procedure. The functional disability of subjects was assessed by using Barthel’s Index of ADL. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were done. Among all sociodemographic variables, age and marital status of subjects were significantly associated with their ADL status. In logistic regression, only age was a significant predictor of ADL involvement. Adjusted odds ratio for functional disability in the age group ≥80 years and 70–79 years were 19.82 [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.5–86.58] and 2.86 (95% CI: 1.91–4.28), respectively. Despite the several influencing factors, ageing and functional ability of geriatric subjects share an unbreakable bond.