Social, functional and health status influences on mortality: Consideration of a multidimensional inquiry in a large elderly population

Health status, functional status, and social influences were analyzed as risk factors associated with mortality in 1201 elderly subjects (70-75 years old), living in the center of Brescia, Northern Italy, followed up for three years. Mortality was positively associated with degree of impairment in health status, functional status, and mental status as measured by cognitive function and mood depression. Among social conditions no relation was found between mortality and living alone, education, or income, while a significant inverse relationship has been found between mortality and activities. In defining risk factors of mortality in aged people not only health status and cognitive function have to be taken into account but also social activities; these latter may act as protective factors buffering the organism from the effects of noxious stimuli.