Tiredness as determinant of subsequent use of health and social services among nondisabled elderly people

Objective: To examine whether self-reported tiredness in daily activities a t age 75 is an independent determinant of incident hospitalization and use of home services 5 years later. Methods: In all, 275 people participated in a prospective study in Glostrup, Denmark, when they were 75 and 80 years o ld. Four subgroups were created according to whether participants had been hospitalized or used home care in the year before the baseline study and wh ether or not they were disabled at the time. The key predictor variables we re measured by two scales about tiredness in daily activities. Results: Non disabled individuals who felt tired in their daily activities had about twi ce the risk of being hospitalized and of being users of home help 5 years l ater. Conclusions: Because tiredness in daily activities is related to subs equent hospitalization and use of home help, it should be taken seriously i n preventive services among elderly people.