MEDICAL CONDITIONS DIFFERENTIALLY AFFECT THE DEVELOPMENT OF IADL DISABILITY - IMPLICATIONS FOR MEDICAL-CARE AND RESEARCH

Using The Longitudinal Study of Aging, we determined the independent e ffects of nine self-reported medical conditions on the likelihood of d eveloping specific instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) dis abilities at three points in time. We controlled for demographic facto rs and self-reported health status. The various medical conditions dif ferentially affect each specific IADL disability, and each IADL disabi lity has its own set of predictors which, in general, do not vary over time. The differential effects of these predictors need to be taken i nto consideration by researchers, clinicians, and policymakers when st udying disability and when implementing and evaluating programs to red uce disability.