A new approach to the qualitative evaluation of functional disability in XXXX .

@entity303 @entity1 @entity717 @entity734
BACKGROUND: @entity303 @entity1 suffer from the progressive deterioration of cognitive and functional abilities. @entity717 usually appear in the earlier stages of the disease while basic disabilities appear in the more advanced stages. In order to differentiate between mild, moderate and severe @entity1 both @entity717 should be taken into account simultaneously. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to find a new method for classifying @entity303 @entity1 based on their disabilities by using a basic and an instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale. METHODS: Functional disability was assessed in a Belgian cohort of @entity303 @entity1 using the Katz and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scales. A k-means derived clustering method allocated @entity1 to disability clusters according to their Katz and Lawton scores. In order to validate the classification, we compared socio-demographic, clinical and costs parameters between the groups. RESULTS: The clustering method allocated @entity1 between three clusters: dependent, non-dependent with @entity717 (ND-IFD) and non-dependent. @entity734 , as defined by these clusters, significantly correlates with age, residential setting, MMSE, @entity1 's quality of life and costs. CONCLUSION: This new classification of @entity1 suffering from @entity303 will provide better understanding of functional disabilities and will complement the evaluation of disease severity based on cognitive function.
