Functional evaluation of a group of centenarians in Eastern Sicily by means of the activity of daily living scale

Summary om sample of 28 centenarians was studied (32.56 % of all centenarians in Eastern Sicily) within the framework of the Italian Multicenter Study on Centenarians. The activity of daily living (ADL) scale was applied to evaluate their capacity to perform everyday tasks autonomously. The study sample consisted of 8 males (28.57 %) and 20 females (71.43 %), overall mean age was 102.57 ± 2.1 years. The patients fell into 3 groups according to their ADL scores independent group (with score A) 5 persons, 17.86 % (2 males and 3 females); partially independent group (with scores B and C) 5 persons, 17.86 % (1 male and 4 females); dependent group (with scores D-E-F-G and other) 18 persons, 64.29 % (5 males and 13 females). We compared the results with a control study sample of 28 elderly patients (8 males, 20 females) over 85 years of age resident in a small village in Eastern Sicily (Graniti) and observed that the centenarians presented greater independence, especially the women.