Long-Term Follow-Up of Cognitive Function and Activities of Daily Living in Older People: A Feasibility Study in the PROSPER Cohort
Gillian D. Kerr *, 1, Michele Robertson2, David J. Stott1
1 Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine, Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
2 Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
Abstract
Background:
The Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER) considered the benefits of pravastatin therapy and provided insights into cognitive decline/disability in older people but follow-up was short.
Methods:
We performed a feasibility study of 300 PROSPER recruits, 7 years after the trial finished. The subject’s general practitioner provided basic follow-up data. Telephone contact with participants established cognition/functional level. Relatives of those unsuitable for contact were asked to complete postal questionnaires.
Results:
Of 300 participants we established 132 were alive, 135 dead and 33 lost to follow-up. Of 132 survivors data were obtained for 78 participants by telephone, 10 participants with GP diagnosis of dementia, and 3 participants whose relative provided information. Therefore cognitive function was determined in 69% of survivors and functional ability in 61%.
Conclusions:
It was feasible to perform long-term follow-up of cognition/functional ability in the majority of survivors from a large randomised controlled trial.
Keywords: Cognitive impairment, dementia, disability, elderly, PROSPER study, cholesterol..
Article Information
Article History:
Received Date: 30/5/2011
Revision Received Date: 09/7/2011
Acceptance Date: 15/7/2011
Electronic publication date: 05/09/2011
Collection year: 2011
© Kerr et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.
open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (
http: //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
* Address correspondence to this author at the Academic Section of Geriatric Medicine, Walton Building, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK; Tel: 0141 211 4976; Fax: 0141 211 4033;
E-mail:
gilliandkerr@hotmail.co.uk
Open Peer Review Details |
Manuscript submitted on 30-5-2011 |
Original Manuscript |
Long-Term Follow-Up of Cognitive Function and Activities of Daily Living in Older People: A Feasibility Study in the PROSPER Cohort |