Weight and Body Mass Index in men and age and height in women relate to difficulty and ability in performing activities in community-living Thai elders

Abstract

Objective: To compare difficulty between male and female community-living elderly in performing activities (DDA), ability in performing living activities (ADA) and balance, and to explore associations among them related to age, weight, height and body mass index (BMI). Material and Method: In all, 1,964 participants (646 men, 1,318 women) aged 60 or over reported their age, weight, height, DDA, ADA, and performed the Berg balance scale (BBS). Male and female elderly were divided into low and high BBS groups (BBS cutoff point score: male = 26, female = 28.5). The Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to compare age, weight, height, BMI, DDA, ADA and the BBS. Associations among them were tested using Spearman’s rank correlation. Results: A low BBS score represented high risk of falling and vice versa for a high BBS score. No difference in DDA, ADA, and BBS was found associated with sex. Weight and BMI correlated to DDA, ADA, and BBS in elderly men with high fall risk, while age and height was related to DDA and ADA, respectively in elderly women with low fall risk. Conclusion: Male and female community-dwelling Thai elders were similar in ability in performing activities and balance. Weight and BMI was important among elderly men, whereas age and height was significant among women.