Joint trajectories of disability and related factors among older adults in China

This study aimed to identify disability trajectories and discover early disablement process factors associated with disability trajectories among older adults in China.

This is a prospective cohort study.

Data were obtained from five waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS, 2005 to 2018). The multitrajectory modelling approach was used to estimate the joint trajectories of activity of daily living (ADL) disability and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) disability. A multinomial regression model was used to investigate how baseline disablement process factors among individuals aged 65-95 years are related to joint disability trajectory groups.

We identified three typical joint ADL and IADL disability trajectories. Demographic characters, social participation, community services, disease, impairment and functional limitations can all impact the disability trajectories among older adults.

The joint ADL and IADL disability trajectories of older adults are increasing, and the Chinese government should pay more attention to disability process elements to improve disability interventions among older adults.