Abstract:
Background: Physical Functions (PF) in performance based and self-reported ways are
essential parameters for health assessment in older people that can be further influenced by co morbidity.
Objectives: To assess the level of self-reported PF (SRPF) and performance-based PF (PBPF)
and associated co-morbidities among community-dwelling older people in Embilipitiya Medical
Officer of Health (MOH) area.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with randomly selected
community-dwelling older people (n=200) aged 65-80 years living in Embilipitiya MOH area.
Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was used to study PBPF while SRPF was studied
using 10-items of PF in short-form 36 survey. Co-morbidities were assessed by using clinical
diagnosis mentioned in the medical records. The cut-off values of SRPF were <33=poor
function, 34-66=moderate function and >67=full function while cut-off values of SPPB were
<10=worst performance and >10=best performance. The data were analysed using descriptive
statistics and Chi-square test.
Results: Of the participants, 50.5% were females and a majority (70.0%) were in age category
of 65-70 years. Based on the PBPF, 32.5% (n=65) had worst performance and 67.5% (n=135)
had best performance. With regards to the SRPF, 28.5% (n=57) had poor function, 49.0%
(n=98) had moderate level of function and 22.5% (n=45) reported the full function. Having
diabetes mellitus (p=0.004) and malignancies (p=0.006) has shown significant associations with
PBPF. Further, diabetes mellitus (p=0.02), asthma (p=0.02), anaemia (p<0.001) and
osteoarthritis (p=0.02) have shown significant associations with SRPF.
Conclusions: Despites the way of measurement of PF, a reasonable percentage of older people
living in the studied area had poor PF. Further, co-morbidities are influenced on SRPF and
PBPF the tested population.
