Authors: David W Baker Michael S Wolf Joseph Feinglass Jason A Thompson
Publish Date: 2008/03/11
Volume: 23, Issue: 6, Pages: 723-726
Abstract
We conducted a prospective cohort study of 3260 communitydwelling adults age 65 and older Participants were interviewed in 1997 and administered the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults and the Mini Mental Status Examination Mortality was determined using the National Death Index through 2003In multivariate models with only literacy not cognition the adjusted hazard ratio was 150 95 confidence of interval CI 124–181 for inadequate versus adequate literacy In multivariate models without literacy delayed recall of 3 items and the ability to serial subtract numbers were associated with higher mortality eg adjusted hazard ratios AHR 174 95 CI 130–234 for recall of zero versus 3 items and 132 95 CI 109–160 for 0–2 vs 5 correct subtractions In multivariate analysis with both literacy and cognition the AHRs for the cognition items were similar but the AHR for inadequate literacy decreased to 127 95 CI 103 – 157Obtaining funding—Baker Feinglass Wolf obtaining data and determining deaths from the National Death Index—Feinglass Baker analysis of the data and interpretation of the results—Baker Wolf Feinglass Thompson drafting of the manuscripts—Baker Wolf Feinglass critical feedback and suggested revisions—Thompson
Keywords: