Assessing Mobility Difficulties for Cross‐National Comparisons: Results from the World Health Organization Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health. Issue 2 (17th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Capistrant, Benjamin D.; Glymour, M. Maria; Berkman, Lisa F.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Volume 62:Issue 2(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 329
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2014-01-17
• Subjects: Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/jgs.12633
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-8614

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jgs12633-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jgs12633-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To assess the correspondence between self‐reported and measured indicators of mobility disability in older adults in six low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs).</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs12633-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Cross‐sectional analysis of Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE).</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs12633-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>Household surveys in China, India, Russia, South Africa, Ghana, and Mexico.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs12633-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Participants</title> <p>Community‐dwelling SAGE respondents aged 65 and older (N = 12, 215).</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs12633-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Measurements</title> <p>Objective mobility was assessed according to a 4‐m timed walk at normal pace conducted in the respondent's home; slow walking speed was defined according to the Fried frailty criteria (lowest quintile of walking speed, adjusted for age and height). Self‐reported mobility difficulty was assessed according to a question about ability to walk 1 km; this response was dichotomized into any versus no self‐reported difficulty walking 1 km (reference no difficulty). The age‐ (5‐year groups) and sex‐specific probability of self‐reporting difficulty walking 1 km was estimated in those with a measured slow walk using logistic regression.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs12633-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Between 42% and 76% of people aged 65 and older reported any difficulty walking 1 km. Average walking speed was slowest in Russia (0.61 m/s) and fastest in China (0.88 m/s). The probabilities of reporting any difficulty walking 1 km in women aged 65 to 69, for example, with a slow walk varied (China = 0.35, India = 0.90, Russia = 0.68, South Africa = 0.81, Ghana = 0.91, Mexico = 0.73; test of country differences <italic>P</italic> < .001). There was significant variation at older ages, albeit smaller in magnitude. Patterns were similar for men.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs12633-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Although correspondence between an objective and self‐reported measure of mobility was generally high, correspondence differed significantly between LMICs. International comparisons of self‐reported disability measures for clinical, prevention, and policy guidelines in LMICs should consider that self‐reported data may not correspond to objective measures uniformly between countries.</p> </sec> </abstract>