Gender-related differences in scores of the Barthel Index and Frenchay Activities Index in randomly sampled elderly persons living at home in Japan

The purpose of this study was to examine for gender-related differences in activities of daily living (ADL) and lifestyle of elderly persons living at home, and to support our hypothesis that the gender-related difference in lifestyle of stroke patients derives from their lifestyle prior to the stroke. Participants were randomly sampled elderly persons living at home. Questionnaire sheets including subject profile, Self-Rating Barthel Index (disability index), and Self Rating Frenchay Activities Index (activity index) were mailed and collected, and the data were analyzed with the t-test and General Linear Model (factorial model with interaction). A total of 752 subjects were recruited, and their average age was 67.1 years. Na significant gender-related differences were evident in the disability index including self-care and mobility domains (t-test, P > 0.05). In contrast gender-related differences in the activity index were significant (t-test, P < 0.05) for three factors; gender, age group, and living conditions, and in a covariate disability index (GLM, P < 0.05). Because randomly selected elderly persons in this study exhibited a prominent gender-related difference in lifestyle, we believe the lifestyle difference in stroke patients that. we have previously described derives primarily from their premorbid attitude to daily life. J CLIN EPIDEMIOL 52;11:1089-1094, 1999. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.