Predictive value of the Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI) on all-cause mortality

OBJECTIVES

The Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI) is an instrument that measures long-term overall disability. The objective of this study was to evaluate GALI's predictive value on mortality while examining variations according to sex, age, and educational level.

STUDY DESIGN

Longitudinal study.

METHODS

This longitudinal study was based on 42,991 individuals aged ≥15 years who participated in the 2011-2012 National Health Survey and the 2014 European Health Survey in Spain. These records were linked to mortality data up to December 2021. GALI assessed self-reported functional limitation in the past 6 months and classified individuals into three categories: severely limited, limited but not severely, and not limited. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were calculated using Poisson regression models, adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health status variables.

RESULTS

Compared to individuals with no limitations, those with non-severe limitations had an IRR for mortality of 1.27 (95% CI: 1.16-1.38), and 2.04 (95% CI: 1.81-2.31) in those with severe limitations. Women with severe limitations exhibited a higher IRR (2.32; 95% CI: 1.98-2.71) compared to men (1.73; 95% CI: 1.45-2.08) (P for interaction = 0.005). Individuals <65 years with severe limitations showed a greater association (2.22; 95% CI: 1.58-3.10) than those ≥65 (1.49; 95% CI: 1.32-1.69) (P for interaction <0.001). Among individuals with lower educational attainment, the IRR was 2.08 (95% CI: 1.83-2.37), and 1.87 (95% CI: 1.37-2.56) for the higher education group (P for interaction = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

GALI is a robust predictor of all-cause mortality in the general population and subgroups. The association is stronger in women, individuals <65 years, and those with lower educational levels.

Effect of raw legume diets on disaccharidase activity in the small intestine of chicks

The effect of four raw legume diets: field beans (Vicia faba) (RFB), navy beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) (RNB), soybeans (Glycine soja) (RSB) and bitter vetch (VICIA ervilia) (RBV), on disaccharidase activities in chick small intestine have been studied. Maltase and sucrase activities, which vary with age, were determined in 1 to 60 day old animals, RFB and RBV diets had no effect on maltase activity and only increased sucrase activity in 60 day old chicks. Both maltase and sucrase activities decreased in chicks on RSB diet, regardless of their age, and the decrease was even more pronounced in chicks on RNB diet. Contrarywise, chicks fed on autoclaved navy beans and soybeans showed a considerably higher activity of these disaccharidases.