Successful aging rates of global older adults: A subgroup meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to assess the successful aging (SA) rates of individuals aged 60 and above in different subgroups based on gender, age, region, etc., in order to provide a scientific basis for improving the quality of life of the older adults.

Older adults (≥60 years).

A systematic review was conducted by searching six electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO as of July 17, 2023. Quality assessment, screening, data extraction, and analysis were performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. A total of 64 studies involving 546 228 individuals aged 60 and above were included, and subgroup analyses were conducted based on sex, age, region, study time, and study quality. Statistical analyses were conducted using Revman 5.3 and Stata 11.0.

The SA rate was higher in males (26.0 %, 95 % CI 22.0 %-30.0 %) compared to females (19.0 %, 95 % CI 16.0 %-22.0 %). The SA rates in older adults in the 60-69 (36.0 %), 70-79 (30.0 %), and 80+ (19.0 %) age groups showed a decreasing trend. In regional subgroup analysis, SA rates were higher in North America (30.0 %) and South America (26.0 %), and lower in Asia (19.0 %), Africa (17.0 %), Oceania (16.0 %) and Europe (15.0 %). The SA rate before 2010 (26.0 %) was higher than that 2010 and after (22.0 %). Compared to low quality studies (18.0 %), high quality studies (27.0 %) had a higher SA rate.

The study found that males had a higher SA rate than females, and the SA rate decreased with age. There were regional differences in SA rates. Variations in economic and educational levels among different countries may affect the likelihood of achieving SA in the older population. Measures are recommended to improve the living conditions of older adults with low education and economic status.