Auyeung TW, Leung JCS, Lu ZH, Tsang C, Lee JSW, Kwok TCY, Woo J. Comparison of the Physical Function Trajectories in Three Birth Cohorts of Chinese Older Adults: A 14-Year Longitudinal Study.
J Nutr Health Aging 2023;
27:1056-1062. [PMID:
37997728 DOI:
10.1007/s12603-023-2026-6]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
It remains uncertain whether the favorable trend of reduction in physical disabilities has become reversed in the recent-born cohorts of older adults. This study aimed to compare the rate of decline with time in self-reported Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL) difficulties, objective measurement of gait speed and grip strength, in three birth cohorts of Chinese older adults.
DESIGN
A prospective cohort study.
SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS
Four thousand Chinese older adults aged 65 years or above in three birth cohorts (1934-1938, 1929-1933, 1905-1928) were recruited from the community in Hong Kong.
MEASUREMENTS
Grip strength, gait speed and IADL difficulties were measured between 2001 to 2017. Joint models were used to examine the trajectories of grip strength, gait speed and IADL difficulties over time, and the interaction effect of age-by-cohort (or also age2-by-cohort) was also examined.
RESULTS
The recently born cohort (1934 - 1938) had worse grip strength and more IADL difficulties at the same age than the earlier two cohorts (1929 - 1933; 1905 - 1928). Furthermore, the most recently born cohort also followed a more rapid decline longitudinally with a greater decline observed in gait speed, grip strength and IADL difficulties for women whereas a greater decline in grip strength and IADL difficulties for men.
CONCLUSIONS
The continuous improvement of physical limitations in old age may have halted and there appears to be a reversal of this favourable trend in the recent born cohort of older adults living in Hong Kong.
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