Wang et al reported an index for predicting the risk of self-neglect in an older adult living in the community. This can help to identify a patient who may benefit from an intervention. The authors are from Rutgers University and Rush University Medical Center.
Patient selection: older adult living in the community, age >= 65 years
Parameters:
(1) race/ethnicity
(2) age in years
(3) annual income
(4) hypertension
(5) shortness of breath
(6) last time aspirin taken
(7) hours of physical activity over the past 2 weeks
(8) vision (able to read ordinary newspaper print)
(9) hearing aid
(10) frequency of dinner or party with friends or relatives
Parameter
Finding
Points
race
African American
5
White
0
age
<= 75 years
1
> 75 years
0
income
< $15,000
1
>= $15,000
0
hypertension
systolic blood pressure >= 150 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >= 90
2
neither
0
shortness of breath
no
0
yes
1
last time took aspirin
<= 3 years ago
0
> 3 years ago
1
physical activity
< 2 hours
1
>= 2 hours
0
able to read a newspaper
no
2
yes
0
hearing aid
no
0
yes
2
dinner or party
less than several times a month
1
several times a month
0
total score =
= SUM(points for all of the parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 17
• The higher the score the greater the risk of self-neglect in the next 3 years.
Total Score
3-Year Probability of Self-Neglect
0 or 1
0%
2 to 4
1%
5 or 6
2%
7
3%
8
4%
9
6%
10
8%
11
11%
12
15%
13
20%
14
27%
15
34%
16
42%
17
51%
Performance:
• The area under the ROC curve is 0.76.
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