Prevalence, predictors and covariates of functional status impairment among Finnish Second World War veterans during 1992–2004 RIITTA LESKINEN, TIINA LAATIKAINEN, MARKKU PELTONEN, ESKO LEVÄLAHTI, RIITTA ANTIKAINEN

Background: the functional status is one of the most important health measurements in the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of self-reported physical and mental conditions among Finnish Second World War veterans during 1992–2004. We also aimed to study the ability of these conditions in 1992 to predict the functional status impairment in 2004 and to determine whether the worsening of symptoms or the onset of new diseases during 1992–2004 was associated with impaired basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in 2004. Methods: the study population was 4,999 veterans living in Finland participating in both the Veteran Project 1992 and 2004. Logistic regression models were employed to identify predictors for impaired BADL and IADL. Analyses were 508 R. Leskinen et al.