Abstract
Several studies have demonstrated a global increase in morbidity and mortality in elderly subjects with low social support or high comorbidity. However, the relationship between social support and comorbidity on long-term mortality in elderly people is not yet known. Thus, the present study was performed to evaluate the relationship between social support and comorbidity on 12-year mortality of elderly people. A random sample of 1288 subjects aged 65-95 years interviewed in 1992 was studied. Comorbidity by Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score and Social Support by a scale in which total score ranges from 0 to 17, assigning to lowest social support the highest score, were evaluated. At 12-year follow-up, mortality progressively increase with low social support and comorbidity increasing (from 41.5% to 66.7% and from 41.2% to 68.3%, respectively; p<. 0.001). Moreover, low social support progressively increases with comorbidity increasing (and 12.4 ± 2.5 to 14.3 ± 2.6; p<. 0.001). Accordingly, multivariate analysis shows an increased mortality risk of 23% for each increase of tertile of social support scale (Hazard ratio = HR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.01-1.51; p= 0.045). Moreover, when the analysis was performed considering different degrees of comorbidity we found that social support level was predictive of mortality only in subjects with the highest comorbidity (HR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.082-1.78; p= 0.01). Thus, low social support is predictive of long-term mortality in the elderly. Moreover, the effect of social support on mortality increases in subjects with the highest comorbidity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 323-328 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1 2010 |
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Keywords
- Charlson Comorbidity Index
- Morbidity
- Mortality
- Social support
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aging
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Health(social science)
- Gerontology
Cite this
Social support and long-term mortality in the elderly : Role of comorbidity. / Mazzella, Francesca; Cacciatore, Francesco; Galizia, Gianluigi; Della Morte, David; Rossetti, Marianna; Abbruzzese, Rosa; Langellotto, Assunta; Avolio, Daniela; Gargiulo, Gaetano; Ferrara, Nicola; Rengo, Franco; Abete, Pasquale.
In: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Vol. 51, No. 3, 01.11.2010, p. 323-328.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Social support and long-term mortality in the elderly
T2 - Role of comorbidity
AU - Mazzella, Francesca
AU - Cacciatore, Francesco
AU - Galizia, Gianluigi
AU - Della Morte, David
AU - Rossetti, Marianna
AU - Abbruzzese, Rosa
AU - Langellotto, Assunta
AU - Avolio, Daniela
AU - Gargiulo, Gaetano
AU - Ferrara, Nicola
AU - Rengo, Franco
AU - Abete, Pasquale
PY - 2010/11/1
Y1 - 2010/11/1
N2 - Several studies have demonstrated a global increase in morbidity and mortality in elderly subjects with low social support or high comorbidity. However, the relationship between social support and comorbidity on long-term mortality in elderly people is not yet known. Thus, the present study was performed to evaluate the relationship between social support and comorbidity on 12-year mortality of elderly people. A random sample of 1288 subjects aged 65-95 years interviewed in 1992 was studied. Comorbidity by Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score and Social Support by a scale in which total score ranges from 0 to 17, assigning to lowest social support the highest score, were evaluated. At 12-year follow-up, mortality progressively increase with low social support and comorbidity increasing (from 41.5% to 66.7% and from 41.2% to 68.3%, respectively; p<. 0.001). Moreover, low social support progressively increases with comorbidity increasing (and 12.4 ± 2.5 to 14.3 ± 2.6; p<. 0.001). Accordingly, multivariate analysis shows an increased mortality risk of 23% for each increase of tertile of social support scale (Hazard ratio = HR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.01-1.51; p= 0.045). Moreover, when the analysis was performed considering different degrees of comorbidity we found that social support level was predictive of mortality only in subjects with the highest comorbidity (HR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.082-1.78; p= 0.01). Thus, low social support is predictive of long-term mortality in the elderly. Moreover, the effect of social support on mortality increases in subjects with the highest comorbidity.
AB - Several studies have demonstrated a global increase in morbidity and mortality in elderly subjects with low social support or high comorbidity. However, the relationship between social support and comorbidity on long-term mortality in elderly people is not yet known. Thus, the present study was performed to evaluate the relationship between social support and comorbidity on 12-year mortality of elderly people. A random sample of 1288 subjects aged 65-95 years interviewed in 1992 was studied. Comorbidity by Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score and Social Support by a scale in which total score ranges from 0 to 17, assigning to lowest social support the highest score, were evaluated. At 12-year follow-up, mortality progressively increase with low social support and comorbidity increasing (from 41.5% to 66.7% and from 41.2% to 68.3%, respectively; p<. 0.001). Moreover, low social support progressively increases with comorbidity increasing (and 12.4 ± 2.5 to 14.3 ± 2.6; p<. 0.001). Accordingly, multivariate analysis shows an increased mortality risk of 23% for each increase of tertile of social support scale (Hazard ratio = HR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.01-1.51; p= 0.045). Moreover, when the analysis was performed considering different degrees of comorbidity we found that social support level was predictive of mortality only in subjects with the highest comorbidity (HR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.082-1.78; p= 0.01). Thus, low social support is predictive of long-term mortality in the elderly. Moreover, the effect of social support on mortality increases in subjects with the highest comorbidity.
KW - Charlson Comorbidity Index
KW - Morbidity
KW - Mortality
KW - Social support
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77957334896&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77957334896&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.archger.2010.01.011
DO - 10.1016/j.archger.2010.01.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 20153534
AN - SCOPUS:77957334896
VL - 51
SP - 323
EP - 328
JO - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
JF - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
SN - 0167-4943
IS - 3
ER -