Cohort Differences in Health of the Young-Old
Author Information
Author(s): Carol Jagger, Ruth J Matthews, Fiona E Matthews, Nicola A Spiers, Judith Nickson, Eugene S Paykel, Felicia A Huppert, Carol Brayne
Primary Institution: University of Leicester
Hypothesis
What are the trends in health and disability among the young-old UK population over time?
Conclusion
The study indicates that the newer cohorts of the young-old report higher levels of chronic conditions, particularly arthritis and chronic airways obstruction.
Supporting Evidence
- Survival rates were similar between the two cohorts.
- 14.2% of the new cohort reported 3 or more chronic conditions compared to 10.1% in the old cohort.
- There was a significant increase in the reporting of arthritis and chronic airways obstruction.
Takeaway
Older people today are reporting more health problems than those from earlier years, especially with conditions like arthritis.
Methodology
The study compared two cohorts of men and women aged 65-69 years from 1991/2 and 1996/7 on self-reported diseases, health ratings, and disability using logistic regression and Cox Proportional Hazards models.
Potential Biases
Self-reporting may introduce bias, especially among those with cognitive impairments.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data, which may be influenced by increased awareness and reporting of health issues in newer cohorts.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 65-69 years, with a balanced gender distribution and varying educational backgrounds.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.006
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.04 to 1.78
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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