Analysis of Change in Self-reported Physical Function among Older Persons in Four Population Studies

Abstract

Change in self-reported physical function was examined using baseline and 5 years of follow-up data between 1982 and 1991 from the four Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly studies. In East Boston, Massachusetts (n = 3,809), Iowa and Washington Counties, Iowa (n = 3,673), New Haven, Connecticut (n = 2,812), and North Carolina (n = 4,163), noninstitutionalized persons aged 65 years and older were asked a series of questions to assess their physical function: a modified Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale, three items from the Rosow-Breslau Functional Health Scale, and questions on physical performance, adapted from Nagi, as well as information on demographic, social, and health characteristics. Longitudinal statistical analyses (random effects and Markov transition models) were used to evaluate improvement, stability, and deterioration in functional ability at both an individual and a population level over multiple years of data. The average decline in physical function associated with age was found to be greater than previous cross-sectional studies have suggested, and the rate of decline increased with increasing age. Considerable individual variation was evident. Although many people experienced declines, a smaller but substantial portion experienced recovery. Women reported a greater rate of decline in physical function and were less likely to recover from disability.

The association between nutritional status and handgrip strength in older Rwandan refugees

“…A large longitudinal study among older non-institutionalised Americans demonstrated a greater decline in physical function with age than suggested by cross-sectional studies. The rate of decline was greater at a more advanced age and in women (Beckett et al, 1996). In the UK Bassey and Harries (1993) also found greater loss of handgrip strength over 4 years (3% per year in men, 5% per year in women) than predicted from baseline data.…”

Gender difference in the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of mobility disability among older adults in Nigeria

“…Gender differences in mobility disability have previously been examined in several studies (Beckett et al 1996;Grundy and Glaser 2000;Oman et al 1999), with most studies in the field reporting a higher prevalence of mobility disability among women, compared to men (Beckett et al 1996). However, a few studies have reported Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10433-016-0386-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.…”

Age, time, and cohort effects on functional status and self-rated health in elderly men.

“…'1 It is important to note that an average decline in functional status has its specific dynamics; in most studies, a large proportion of the elderly are found to remain stable in their functional status, a smaller proportion decline, and an even smaller, but not unimportant, proportion improve in functional status.7'8'1 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Self-rated health is also reported to deteriorate with advancing age, with the same underlying dynamics as the deterioration of functional status,14-l6 but it is less clear whether this relationship holds into old age. Some studies have reported better health ratings among the old-old than among the young-old.…”