Prevalence and correlates of physical disability and functional limitation among community dwelling older people in rural Malaysia, a middle income country

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence and correlates of physical disability and functional limitation among older people have been studied in many developed countries but not in a middle income country such as Malaysia. The present study investigated the epidemiology of physical disability and functional limitation among older people in Malaysia and compares findings to other countries.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A population-based cross sectional study was conducted in Alor Gajah, Malacca. Seven hundred and sixty five older people aged 60 years and above underwent tests of functional limitation (Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment Tool). Data were also collected for self reported activities of daily living (ADL) using the Barthel Index (ten items). To compare prevalence with other studies, ADL disability was also defined using six basic ADL's (eating, bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting and walking) and five basic ADL's (eating, bathing, dressing, transferring and toileting).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ten, six and five basic ADL disability was reported by 24.7% (95% CI 21.6-27.9), 14.4% (95% CI 11.9-17.2) and 10.6% (95% CI 8.5-13.1), respectively. Functional limitation was found in 19.5% (95% CI 16.8-22.5) of participants. Variables independently associated with 10 item ADL disability physical disability, were advanced age (≥ 75 years: prevalence ratio (PR) 7.9; 95% CI 4.8-12.9), presence of diabetes (PR 1.8; 95% CI 1.4-2.3), stroke (PR 1.5; 95% CI 1.1-2.2), depressive symptomology (PR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.8) and visual impairment (blind: PR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1-3.6). Advancing age (≥ 75 years: PR 3.0; 95% CI 1.7-5.2) being female (PR 2.7; 95% CI 1.2-6.1), presence of arthritis (PR 1.6; 95% CI 1.2-2.1) and depressive symptomology (PR 2.0; 95% CI 1.5-2.7) were significantly associated with functional limitation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prevalence of physical disability and functional limitation among older Malaysians appears to be much higher than in developed countries but is comparable to developing countries. Associations with socio-demographic and other health related variables were consistent with other studies.</p

IMECE2004-61726 MR FLUID BEHAVIOR UNDER CONSTANT SHEAR RATES AND HIGH MAGNETIC FIELDS OVER LONG TIME PERIODS

ABSTRACT MR fluids are smart materials that reversibly change their rheological properties in the presence of a magnetic field. Their capability to support a high range of shear stresses makes them an ideal component of many mechanical devices. However, to be suitable for applications requiring a large number of cycles, e.g. a clutch, the long term behavior of these fluids needs to be thoroughly investigated and well understood. The paper presents a new MR cell design along with a study of the shear rate, shear strain, magnetic field and time influences on the properties and behavior of a MR fluid tested for long periods of time. The MR cell is required to adapt a commercially available rheometer to measure the rheological properties of the fluid. Overall characteristics of the designed MR cell output capability are provided. Constant shear rate tests, two hours in duration, have been performed at shear rates between 0.1 and 200 1/s under magnetic field intensities up to 0.4 T. The rheological measurements indicated that the time, the shear strain and the shear rate influence the fluid&apos;s shear stress magnitude