Dependence in activities of daily living and cognitive impairment stronglypredicted mortality in older urban residents in Brazil: A 2-year follow-up

OBJECTIVES: To identify a set of predictors of mortality among residents in the community, before any physical, biochemical, or image examination is p erformed, that could be collected on a routine standardized basis, to help the clinician define a patient follow-up strategy and the health planner ma ke decisions regarding the care of older people. DESIGN: A household follow-up study, with an evaluation at baseline and 2 y ears later. SETTING: Residential area, with a low rate of in- and outmigration, in Sao Paulo a large industrialized urban center in southeastern Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand six hundred sixty-seven older urban residents in the community (65+), from different socioeconomic backgrounds, enrolled af ter a study area census. INTERVENTION: Structured home interview with Brazilian Older Americans Reso urces and Services Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire, pr eviously validated in Portuguese. MEASUREMENTS: A logistic regression model for the risk of dying in the peri od was developed, having as independent variables, sociodemographic charact eristics plus six other dimensions: subjective self-evaluation of health, p ast medical history, use of health services, dependence in activities of da ily living (ADLs), mental health, and cognitive status.