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.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 766-778 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | American Journal of Epidemiology |
| Volume | 143 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| State | Published - Apr 15 1996 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- activities of daily living
- aging
- longitudinal studies
- population surveillance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
Cite this
Analysis of change in self-reported physical function among older persons in four population studies. / Beckett, Laurel A; Brock, Dwight B.; Lemke, Jon H.; Mendes De Leon, Carlos F.; Guralnik, Jack M.; Fillenbaum, Gerda G.; Branch, Laurence G.; Wetle, Terrie T.; Evans, Denis A.
In: American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 143, No. 8, 15.04.1996, p. 766-778.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Analysis of change in self-reported physical function among older persons in four population studies
AU - Beckett, Laurel A
AU - Brock, Dwight B.
AU - Lemke, Jon H.
AU - Mendes De Leon, Carlos F.
AU - Guralnik, Jack M.
AU - Fillenbaum, Gerda G.
AU - Branch, Laurence G.
AU - Wetle, Terrie T.
AU - Evans, Denis A.
PY - 1996/4/15
Y1 - 1996/4/15
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - activities of daily living
KW - aging
KW - longitudinal studies
KW - population surveillance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029933337&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029933337&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
VL - 143
SP - 766
EP - 778
JO - American Journal of Epidemiology
JF - American Journal of Epidemiology
SN - 0002-9262
IS - 8
ER -