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Predictors of long-term care among nonagenarians: the Vitality 90 + Study with linked data of the care registers

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research volume 30, pages 913–919 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

The need for long-term care services increases with age. However, little is known about the predictors of long-term care (LTC) entry among the oldest old.

Aims

Aim of this study was to assess predictors of LTC entry in a sample of men and women aged 90 years and older.

Methods

This study was based on the Vitality 90 + Study, a population-based study of nonagenarians in the city of Tampere, Finland. Baseline information about health, functioning and living conditions were collected by mailed questionnaires. Information about LTC was drawn from care registers during the follow-up period extending up to 11 years. Cox regression models were used for the analyses, taking into account the competing risk of mortality.

Results

During the mean follow-up period of 2.3 years, 844 (43%) subjects entered first time into LTC. Female gender (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.14–1.69), having at least two chronic conditions (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.07–1.44), living alone (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.15–1.63) and help received sometimes (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.02–1.49) or daily (HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.38–2.04) were independent predictors of LTC entry.

Conclusion

Risk of entering into LTC was increased among women, subjects with at least two chronic conditions, those living alone and with higher level of received help. Since number of nonagenarians will increase and the need of care thereby, it is essential to understand predictors of LTC entry to offer appropriate care for the oldest old in future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Turku, Finland

    Maarit Kauppi

  2. Gerontology Research Center, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    Maarit Kauppi, Jani Raitanen, Sari Stenholm, Mari Aaltonen, Linda Enroth & Marja Jylhä

  3. Faculty of Social Sciences (Health Sciences), University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    Maarit Kauppi, Jani Raitanen, Sari Stenholm, Mari Aaltonen, Linda Enroth & Marja Jylhä

  4. UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland

    Jani Raitanen

  5. Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Sari Stenholm

Authors
  1. Maarit Kauppi
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  2. Jani Raitanen
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  4. Mari Aaltonen
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  5. Linda Enroth
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  6. Marja Jylhä
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Contributions

MK and MJ developed the study design and supervised this study. MK and JR performed statistical analyses. MK wrote the first draft. All authors contributed to analysis and interpretation of data, and drafting or critical revision of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maarit Kauppi.

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Funding

This study was supported by Grants from the Academy of Finland (Project 250602) and from the Competitive Research Funding by the Pirkanmaa University Hospital to MJ.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Statement of human and animal rights

The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the Pirkanmaa Hospital District and the Ethics Committee of the Tampere Health Center.

Informed consent

All participants or their legal representatives gave their written informed consent.

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Kauppi, M., Raitanen, J., Stenholm, S. et al. Predictors of long-term care among nonagenarians: the Vitality 90 + Study with linked data of the care registers. Aging Clin Exp Res 30, 913–919 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-017-0869-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-017-0869-6

Keywords

  • Health services use
  • Long-term care
  • Longitudinal methods
  • Population aging