Predictors of transitions in disease and disability in pre- and early-retirement populations

This study analyzed rates of prevalence and incidence of, and transitions in, disease and disability statuses of those aged 51 to 61 years and the predictors of the transition outcomes-remaining free of disease or disability, getting better, or getting worse-over a 2-year period.

Data from the 1992 and 1994 interview waves of the Health and Retirement Study were used for gender-separate binary and multinomial logistic regression analyses.

Despite high prevalence and incidence rates of chronic disease and functional limitations, the improvement rates in disabilities were also high. For both genders, age, years of education, health-related behaviors, and comorbidity factors were significant predictors of the transition outcomes.

The significance of health-related behaviors as predictors of transitions suggests that lifestyle factors may have a bigger influence on this age group than on older groups.