Age and sex differences in associations between self-reported health, physical function, mental function and...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Sociology of Aging

Background:

• Self-rated health, physical activity, physical function, and depressive symptoms are key indicators of health in older adults.
• Understanding how age and sex modify the impact of these factors on mortality is crucial for public health interventions.
• Existing research often overlooks the complex interplay between sex, age, and health outcomes in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differential effects of age and sex on the association between self-rated health, physical activity, physical function, and depressive symptoms with long-term mortality.
• To analyze these associations within a nationally representative cohort of community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study (SEBAS) with 1550 participants.
• Employed multivariate logistic regression models to assess associations between age, sex, physical activity limitations, activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and depression.
• Stratified analysis by age (middle-aged: 53-64 years; elderly: ≥65 years) and sex.

Main Results:

• Older women reported significantly higher difficulties with physical activities and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) compared to men.
• Despite reporting better health and functional status, older men exhibited the highest risk of long-term mortality after adjusting for numerous confounding factors (aHR 2.06 [1.45-2.93]).
• Self-reported health status was comparable across age and sex subgroups.

Conclusions:

• Women, particularly older women, experience greater challenges in physical and functional health compared to men.
• Men, especially older men, face a substantially elevated mortality risk, even when reporting better health and functional performance.
• These findings highlight the need for sex- and age-specific approaches in health assessment and intervention strategies for older adults.