Ageing trajectories of health—longitudinal opportunities and synergies (ATHLOS) Healthy Ageing Scale in adults from 16 international cohorts representing 38 countries worldwide

Abstract

BackgroundUniform international measurement tools for assessing healthy ageing are currently lacking.ObjectivesThe study assessed the novel comprehensive global Ageing Trajectories of Health: Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) Healthy Ageing Scale, using an Item Response Theory approach, for evaluating healthy ageing across populations.DesignPooled analysis of 16 international longitudinal studies.Setting38 countries in five continents.SubjectsInternational cohort (n=355 314), including 44.4% (n=153 597) males, aged (mean±SD) 61.7±11.5 years old.MethodsThe ATHLOS Healthy Ageing Scale (including 41 items related to intrinsic capacity and functional ability) was evaluated in a pooled international cohort (n=355 314 from 16 studies) according to gender, country of residence and age group. It was also assessed in a subset of eight cohorts with ≥3 waves of follow-up assessment. The independent samples t-test and Mann–Whitney test were applied for comparing normally and skewed continuous variables between groups, respectively.ResultsThe ATHLOS Scale (range: 12.49–68.84) had a mean (±SD) value of 50.2±10.0, with males and individuals >65 years old exhibiting higher and lower mean scores, respectively. Highest mean scores were detected in Switzerland, Japan and Denmark, while lowest in Ghana, India and Russia. When the ATHLOS Scale was evaluated in a subset of cohorts with ≥3 study waves, mean scores were significantly higher than those of the baseline cohort (mean scores in ≥3 study waves vs baseline: 51.6±9.4 vs 50.2±10.0; p<0.01).ConclusionsThe ATHLOS Healthy Ageing Scale may be adequately applied for assessing healthy ageing across populations.

How Healthy Aging and Contact With Children Are Associated With Satisfaction in Middle-Aged and Older Parents in China: A Mediation Analysis

“…The HAI was measured using a healthy aging scale (BMRM-D-18-00329) developed by the Aging Trajectories of Health: Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) project ( 32 ), which consisted of 16 general population longitudinal studies ( 33 ). Item response theory model was used to develop an ATHLOS scale with 41 items for measuring healthy aging ( 34 ).…”

Relationship between Dietary Macronutrients Intake and the ATHLOS Healthy Ageing Scale: Results from the Polish Arm of the HAPIEE Study

“…The validity of the scale against sociodemographic, health factors and mortality has shown that this score corresponds well with health status and could be useful in international ageing studies [4]. Details on the construction of the scale and its performance have been widely presented and discussed in earlier publications [4,5]. Scale values follow a normal distribution of a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10 where higher values mean better healthy ageing.…”

“…), and activities of daily living (getting in or out of bed, bathing, getting dressed, using the toilet, eating, shopping, preparing meals, housework, etc.) that imply interaction with the individual's environment [5].…”

“…Healthy ageing is defined as an "ongoing process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age" [4]. It is a process that everyone experiences differently, since it involves interactions between biological and molecular mechanisms, and with the environment [5,6]. The ageing phenotype appears to be the result of the gradual accumulation of damage to macromolecules, such as DNA, proteins and lipids, which may occur due to inflammation, or metabolic and oxidative stress [7].…”

Editorial: Healthy aging: The role of disease burden and functional ability

“…Additionally, with this approach, researchers may investigate the impact of disease burden in healthy aging which would not be possible if the presence of a disease or a biomarker that is associated with it was part of the metric itself. As a result, such metrics can be used in complex models that will include socioeconomic, biological and clinical factors in order to identify potential determinants of healthy aging ( 10 – 13 ).…”