Modifiers of cardiovascular risk score on disability in the elderly

Abstract

"Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects daily living functionality, cognitive ability, and mood. We evaluated the effects of a CVD risk score on disability and assessed the characteristics that may modify this relationship in 192 older adults (mean age: 65.6 years, 96 women). WHODAS 2.0 was used to measure global disability and mobility difficulty. Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was used to predict 10-year cardiovascular mortality risk. Sociodemographic characteristics, mental status, overall mood, and gait speed were evaluated for their potential modification of the effect of FRS on WHODAS. We used general linear models to estimate the main effect and interaction effects for the modifiers. A higher effect of FRS was significantly associated with worse WHODAS total score and mobility subscore. We found female gender, younger age, higher IQ, more years of education, higher MMSE, faster gait speed, and higher GDS to be potential effect modifiers."