Maintaining Mobility in Late Life. I. Demographic Characteristics and Chronic Conditions

TLDR

The study examined how demographic factors and chronic conditions influence mobility maintenance among older adults using longitudinal data from the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (1981‑1987) involving 6,981 participants aged 65+. Participants with intact baseline mobility (able to climb stairs and walk half a mile unaided) were followed annually for up to four years, during which age, income, education, and baseline and incident chronic conditions were assessed for their association with loss of mobility. During follow‑up, 55.1% of participants maintained mobility, 36.2% lost it, and 8.7% died; older age, lower income, and higher burden of chronic conditions increased risk, with new cardiovascular events and cancer or hip fracture markedly elevating the likelihood of mobility loss, while lower education was a risk factor only in men.

Abstract

To assess the role of demographic factors and chronic conditions in maintaining mobility in older persons, this study utilized longitudinal data collected as part of the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly between 1981 and 1987 on 6,981 men and women aged 65 years and older in East Boston, Massachusetts; Iowa and Washington counties, Iowa; and New Haven, Connecticut. Results are presented for those who at baseline reported intact mobility, defined as the ability to climb stairs and walk a half mile without help, and who were followed annually for up to 4 years for changes in mobility status. Age, income, education, and chronic conditions present at baseline and occurring during follow-up were evaluated for their association with loss of mobility. Over the follow-up period, 55.1% of subjects maintained mobility, 36.2% lost mobility, and 8.7% died without evidence of mobility loss prior to death. In both men and women, increasing age and lower income levels were associated with increased risk of losing mobility, even after controlling for the presence of chronic conditions at baseline. After adjustment for age, income, and chronic conditions, lower education levels were a significant risk factor for mobility loss in men, but not in women. Baseline reports of previous heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, dyspnea, and exertional leg pain were associated with small but significant risks for mobility loss. There was a stepwise increase in the risk of mobility loss according to the number of chronic conditions present at baseline that was very consistent between men and women. The occurrence during the study of a new heart attack, stroke, cancer, or hip fracture was associated with a substantially greater risk of mobility loss than was associated with the presence of these conditions at baseline.