Housing and Health: Very Old People with Self-Reported Parkinson’s Disease versus Controls

Table 3

Comparison of aspects of health between very old people reporting having Parkinson’s disease (PD) (n = 20) and controls not reporting having PD (n = 60).

	PD, n = 20		Controls, n = 60
	n	%	n	%	P value^a
ADL Staircase item^b
(1) Feeding	7/20	35	2/60	3	0.001
(2) Transfer	10/20	50	13/60	22	0.047
(3) Toileting	7/20	35	3/60	5	0.003
(4) Dressing	10/20	50	15/60	25	0.074
(5) Bathing	14/20	70	23/60	38	0.017
(6) Cooking	12/20	60	15/60	25	0.017
(7) Transportation	14/18	78	21/53	40	0.017
(8) Shopping	16/19	84	29/57	51	0.035
(9) Cleaning	17/19	90	41/57	72	0.206
Personal ADL (items 1–5)^b,c	6/20	30	0/60	0	<0.001
Instrumental ADL (items 6–9)^b,c	9/18	50	9/53	17	0.011
Dependence on walking aids (HE)	10/20	50	12/60	20	0.018
	Median (q1–q3)		Median (q1–q3)
Self-rated functional independence^d	5 (5–7)		8 (7–10)		<0.001
Number of functional limitations (HE)^e	5 (4–7)		2 (1–4)		<0.001
Depression (GDS)^f	6.5 (3.1–9.8)		4 (2.1–6.9)		0.048

^aDichotomous variables were compared using the Mantel-Haenszel test, with continuity correction. Sum-scores/ordinal variables were compared using a version of Wilcoxon signed rank test extended to include multiple controls.
^bAssessed as dependent or partly dependent, or reporting having difficulties.
^cThe results refer to being dependent or reporting having difficulties in all personal or instrumental ADLs, respectively.
^dHigher scores are “better,” that is, more independent.
^eIn both samples, the three most common functional limitations were reduced spine and/or lower extremity function, loss of stamina, and prevalence of poor balance.
^fHigher scores are “worse,” that is, more depression.
ADL: Activities of Daily Living; HE: Housing Enabler; GDS: Geriatric Depression Scale.