OP04 Does the hierarchy of loss in functional ability start in midlife? Findings from a British Birth Cohort. (2nd September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wloch, E; Kuh, D; Cooper, R
• Is Part Of: Journal of epidemiology and community health. Volume 68(2014)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A5
• Page End: A6
• Publication Date: 2014-09-02
• Subjects: healthy ageing -- physical capability -- Birth cohort; Public health -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1136/jech-2014-204726.7
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-005X

Abstract

Abstract : Background: As physical capability declines in later life difficulties performing a range of common tasks of daily living develop in a commonly observed sequence. Difficulty is initially reported in tasks considered hardest to perform (e.g. climbing stairs) before being reported in less complex tasks (e.g. feeding oneself). Most previous work has demonstrated this hierarchy of loss cross-sectionally and in older populations (>70 years). The aim of this study was to use longitudinal data to examine the hierarchy of loss in midlife, at an age when there may be greater opportunity for intervention to prevent disability. Methods: In the Medical Research Council (MRC) National Survey of Health and Development self-reported measures of functional ability have been collected at ages 43, 53 and 60–64. Using these data we calculated the prevalence of difficulties in three of the most complex tasks (i.e. gripping, walking and stair-climbing) at all three ages. We then calculated the prevalence of reported difficulty in all 17 tasks at 60–64, using Mokken Scaling to establish the hierarchical order of these. Finally, we examined progression across the hierarchy over time. Using logistic regression we calculated the odds ratio of reporting difficulty performing tasks at the bottom of the hierarchy (i.e. feeding, washing and/or toileting) at age 60–64 by reported difficulty performing tasks at the top of the hierarchy (i.e. gripping, walking and/or stair-climbing) at age 43. Adjustments were made for sex, age, body mass index, health status and socio-economic position and, those with severe disability at 43 were excluded. Results: At age 43, the prevalence of reported difficulties gripping, walking and stepping ranged between 1.3–3.0% but by age 60–64 had increased to 11.0–19.3%. At age 60–64 a strong hierarchical order to the loss of function was observed (Loevinger Scalability Coefficient H=0.56); gripping was the first task participants reported difficulty with and feeding oneself the last. Participants who reported difficulty gripping, walking and/or stair-climbing at 43 were 3.34 (95% CI: 1.71–6.50) times more likely to report difficulty feeding, washing and/or toileting at 60–64 than people who reported no difficulty at 43. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the hierarchy of loss in functional ability is observed in younger populations. This suggests that targeted interventions to prevent mobility disability should not be delayed until old age as high risk individuals can be identified in midlife, with substantial declines in functional ability already occurring in some people by this age.