Urbanicity and Disparities in the Functional and Physical Abilities of Older Adults Using the Health and Retirement...

This study investigates disparities between older adults based on urbanicity in the United States. We analyzed data from 8259 participants aged 65+ from the 2018 Health and Retirement Study. The mean age was 74 (SD 8). Low-urbanicity participants (29%) were more likely white (88% vs. 77%, p < .001), and had lower education (20% vs. 16%, p-value = .017), higher rates of hypertension (69% vs. 66.3%, p = .035), lung disease (15% vs. 11%, p=<.001), and cognitive impairment (24% vs. 19%, p < .001). After adjustment for demographics, they were less physically active (60% vs. 55%, p = .021) and more dependent on IADLs (19% vs. 16%, p = .018). Urbanicity significantly affects physical abilities (i.e., jogging, climbing stairs, and handling objects) more in younger participants (65-75) than older ones (75+) (p for interaction = .003, .007, and .012, respectively). Significant urbanicity-based disparities in older adults' physical and functional abilities must be addressed to tailor interventions that improve their quality of life.