Table 1 Results of the studies with an evaluation of the four characteristics of interest: cognitive, functional, physical and nutritional status

De Rango F et al. (2007, Italy) [27]

Age ≥ 90: 400

[H,NH]

MMSE^a (women; men)

Dementia <  18: 74.6%; 47.2%

Moderate dementia 18–23: 21.9%; 41.7%

Mild dementia or normal > 23: 3.5%; 11.0%

ADL (women; men)

Independence for the relevant activity

Feeding 73.4%; 83.3%

Transfer 46.1%; 64.1%

Dress and undress 40.2%; 59.6%

Use toilet 40.2%; 59.6%

Bath or shower 26.6%; 35.9%

BMI^b

Median (IR): 23.34 (5.1)

Mean (SD): 23.68 (3.96)

Hand grip^c (kg)

Women mean (SD): 10.85 (4. 65)

Men mean (SD): 16.29 (8.84)

Herr M et al. (2010, France) [32]

Age ≥ 90: 512

[Not specified]

MMSE^a

≤ 26: 124 (26.3%)

<  20: 124 (24.2%)

Need help for ADL: 167 (33%)

Need help for IADL: 343 (67.9%)

Weight loss and/or thinness

Women: 48 (14.2%)

Men: 15 (9.3%)

Lack of physical strength: 307 (59.9%)

Low level of physical activity (IPAQ)^e: 317 (61.9%)

Nybo H et al (1998, Denmark) [44]

Age ≥ 95: 2262

[H,NH]

MMSE^a

Mild dementia or normal ≥ 23: 791 (34.9%)

Moderate dementia 18–22: 575 (25.4%)

Severe dementia 0–17: 398 (17.5%)

ADL

Not disabled: 966 (42.7%)

Moderately disabled: 807 (35.6%)

Severely disabled: 458 (20.2%)

BMI^b

< 22: 885 (39.1%)

22–27: 1069 (47.2%)

≥ 28: 222 (9%)

Hand grip^c

Could complete 1649 (91.1%)

Could not complete: 160 (8.8%)

Chair stand

Stand without use of arms: 909

Stand with use of arms: 680

Could not complete: 220 (9.5%)

von Heideken P et al (2000, Sweden) [48]

Age ≥ 90: 145

Age 90–94:

83

Age 95+: 62

[H,NH]

MMSE^a mean (range)

Age 90–94

Women: 23 (2–30)

Men: 25 (16–29)

Age 95+

Women: 17 (0–28)

Men: 22 (5–29)

Dementia

Age 90–94

Women: 19 (31%)

Men: 3 (14%)

Age 95+

Women: 25 (50%)

Men: 3 (25%)

P-ADL Independent

Age 90–94

Women: 27 (44%)

Men: 15 (71%)

Age 95+

Women: 10 (20%)

Men: 5 (42%)

ADL Independent

Age 90–94

Women: 7 (11%)

Men: 6 (29%)

Age 95+

Women: 2 (4%)

Men: 2 (17%)

MNA^d mean (range)

Age 90–94

Women: 22.5 (13.5–26.5)

Men: 25 (19–27)

Age 95+

Women: 19 (10–27)

Men: 25 (21–29)

Usual gait speed (m/s)

Median (10th–90th perc)

Age 90–94

Women: 0.41 (0.18–0.69)

Men: 0.51 (0.27–1.02)

Age 95+

Women: 0.41 (0.21–0.64)

Men: 0.54 (0.19–0.81)

Fastest gait speed (m/s)

Median (10th–90th perc)

Age 90–94

Women: 0.75 (0.35–1.03)

Men: 0.81 (0.39–1.33)

Age 95+

Women: 0.69 (0.46–1.06)

Men: 0.92 (0.20–1.41)

Three chair stands (sec)

Median (10th–90th perc)

Age 90–94

Women: 11.9 (9–20.9)

Men: 11.9 (8.3–26.3)

Age 95+

Women: 18.5 (10.3–24.7)

Men: 12.2 (2.8–16)