FUNCTIONAL-EVALUATION OF A GROUP OF CENTENARIANS IN EASTERN SICILY BYMEANS OF THE ACTIVITY OF DAILY LIVING SCALE

A random sample of 28 centenarians was studied (32.56 % of all centena rians in Eastern Sicily) within the framework of the Italian Multicent er Study on Centenarians. The activity of daily living (ADL) scale was applied to evaluate their capacity to perform everyday tasks autonomo usly. The study sample consisted of 8 males (28.57 %) and 20 females ( 71.43 %), overall mean age was 102.57 +/- 2.1 years. The patients fell into 3 groups according to their ADL scores: independent group (with score A): 5 persons, 17.86 % (2 males and 3 females): partially indepe ndent group (with scores B and C): 5 persons, 17.86 g (1 male and 4 fe males); dependent group (with scores D-E-F-G and other): 18 persons, 6 4.29 % (5 males and 13 females). Vie compared the results with a contr ol study sample of 28 elderly patients (8 males, 20 females) over 85 y ears of age resident in a small village in Eastern Sicily (Graniti) an d observed that the centenarians presented greater independence, espec ially the women.