scholarly journals Gender differences in disability among older adults in the context of social gender and income inequalities: 2013 Brazilian Health Survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Luiz Barbosa de Lima ◽  
Albert Espelt ◽  
Marina Bosque-Prous ◽  
Kenio Costa Lima

ABSTRACT: Objectives: To estimate the magnitude of gender differences in disability among adults aged 60 and older and to evaluate whether they can be associated with social gender inequality and socioeconomic contextual factors at the level of Brazilian federative units. Methods: This is a multilevel study that used data from 23,575 older adults of 27 federative units who participated in the 2013 Brazilian Health Survey. The activity limitation index was developed from the item response theory, using activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living variables. The association of individual and contextual variables with disability was estimated by assessing the magnitude of differences between genders, using cross-level interaction effects in multilevel generalized linear models, including only the variables that were statistically significant in the final model. Results: The prevalence of disability was higher among women (37.6%) than among men (26.5%), totaling 32.7% of the older adults. In the adjusted multilevel analysis, disability was influenced by income inequality (γgini = 0.022, p < 0.001) among federative units. In addition, gender differences in disability were associated with social gender inequalities (γmgiiXsex = 0.020, p = 0.004). Conclusion: Women had higher disability disadvantages compared to men, and those differences were associated with social gender inequalities among the Brazilian federative units influenced by income inequality.

Author(s):  
Yee Mang Chan ◽  
Norhafizah Sahril ◽  
Ying Ying Chan ◽  
Nor’ Ain Ab Wahab ◽  
Norliza Shamsuddin ◽  
...  

Vision and hearing impairments are common among older adults and can cause undesirable health effects. There are limited studies from low- and middle-income countries exploring gender differences between vision and hearing impairment with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) disability. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate gender differences between vision and hearing impairments with ADL disability among older adults in Malaysia. Cross-sectional data from 3977 respondents aged 60 and above from the Malaysian National Health and Morbidity Survey 2018 were used. We used logistic regression analysis to measure associations between vision and hearing impairments with ADL disability, adjusted for covariates. The prevalence of ADL disability was higher among females than males (p < 0.001). The adjusted associations between vision impairment and ADL disability were significant among males (aOR 3.79; 95%CI 2.26, 6.38) and females (aOR 2.66; 95%CI 1.36, 5.21). Similarly, significant adjusted associations were found between hearing impairment and ADL disability among males (aOR 5.76; 95%CI 3.52, 9.40) and females (aOR 3.30; 95%CI 1.17, 9.33). Vision and hearing impairments were significantly associated with ADL disability, with no gender differences identified. Early detection and effective management of vision and hearing impairments are important to prevent ADL disability and improve older adults’ level of independence.


2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago da Silva Alexandre ◽  
Ligiana Pires Corona ◽  
Daniella Pires Nunes ◽  
Jair Lício Ferreira Santos ◽  
Yeda Aparecida de Oliveira Duarte ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE To analyze gender differences in the incidence and determinants of disability regarding instrumental activities of daily living among older adults. METHODS The data were extracted from the Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento (SABE – Health, Wellbeing and Ageing) study. In 2000, 1,034 older adults without difficulty in regarding instrumental activities of daily living were selected. The following characteristics were evaluated at the baseline: sociodemographic and behavioral variables, health status, falls, fractures, hospitalizations, depressive symptoms, cognition, strength, mobility, balance and perception of vision and hearing. Instrumental activities of daily living such as shopping and managing own money and medication, using transportation and using the telephone were reassessed in 2006, with incident cases of disability considered as the outcome. RESULTS The incidence density of disability in instrumental activities of daily living was 44.7/1,000 person/years for women and 25.2/1,000 person/years for men. The incidence rate ratio between women and men was 1.77 (95%CI 1.75;1.80). After controlling for socioeconomic status and clinical conditions, the incidence rate ratio was 1.81 (95%CI 1.77;1.84), demonstrating that women with chronic disease and greater social vulnerability have a greater incidence density of disability in instrumental activities of daily living. The following were determinants of the incidence of disability: age ≥ 80 and worse perception of hearing in both genders; stroke in men; and being aged 70 to 79 in women. Better cognitive performance was a protective factor in both genders and better balance was a protective factor in women. CONCLUSIONS The higher incidence density of disability in older women remained even after controlling for adverse social and clinical conditions. In addition to age, poorer cognitive performance and conditions that adversely affect communication disable both genders. Acute events, such as a stroke, disables elderly men more, whereas early deficits regarding balance disable women more.


Author(s):  
Nicola Camp ◽  
Martin Lewis ◽  
Kirsty Hunter ◽  
Julie Johnston ◽  
Massimiliano Zecca ◽  
...  

The use of technology has been suggested as a means of allowing continued autonomous living for older adults, while reducing the burden on caregivers and aiding decision-making relating to healthcare. However, more clarity is needed relating to the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) recognised, and the types of technology included within current monitoring approaches. This review aims to identify these differences and highlight the current gaps in these systems. A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR, drawing on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Articles and commercially available systems were selected if they focused on ADL recognition of older adults within their home environment. Thirty-nine ADL recognition systems were identified, nine of which were commercially available. One system incorporated environmental and wearable technology, two used only wearable technology, and 34 used only environmental technologies. Overall, 14 ADL were identified but there was variation in the specific ADL recognised by each system. Although the use of technology to monitor ADL of older adults is becoming more prevalent, there is a large variation in the ADL recognised, how ADL are defined, and the types of technology used within monitoring systems. Key stakeholders, such as older adults and healthcare workers, should be consulted in future work to ensure that future developments are functional and useable.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Muhammad ◽  
Shobhit Srivastava ◽  
T. V. Sekher

Abstract Background Greater cognitive performance has been shown to be associated with better mental and physical health and lower mortality. The present study contributes to the existing literature on the linkages of self-perceived income sufficiency and cognitive impairment. Study also provides additional insights on other socioeconomic and health-related variables that are associated with cognitive impairment in older ages. Methods Data for this study is derived from the 'Building Knowledge Base on Population Ageing in India'. The final sample size for the analysis after removing missing cases was 9176 older adults. Descriptive along with bivariate analyses were presented to show the plausible associations of cognitive impairment with potential risk factors using the chi-square test. Also, binary logistic regression analysis was performed to provide the relationship between cognitive impairment and risk factors. The software used was STATA 14. Results About 43% of older adults reported that they had no source of income and 7.2% had income but not sufficient to fulfil their basic needs. Older adults with income but partially sufficient to fulfil their basic needs had 39% significantly higher likelihood to suffer from cognitive impairment than older adults who had sufficient income [OR: 1.39; OR: 1.21–1.59]. Likelihood of cognitive impairment was low among older adults with asset ownership than older adults with no asset ownership [OR: 0.83; CI: 0.72–0.95]. Again, older adults who work by compulsion (73.3%) or felt mental or physical stress due to work (57.6%) had highest percentage of cognitive impairment. Moreover, older adults with poor self-rated health, low instrumental activities of daily living, low activities of daily living, low subjective well-being and low psychological health were at increased risk for cognitive impairment. Conclusion The study highlights the pressing need for care and support and especially financial incentives in the old age to preserve cognitive health. Further, while planning geriatric health care for older adults in India, priority must be given to financially backward, with no asset ownership, with poor health status, older-older, widowed, and illiterate older individuals, as they are more vulnerable to cognitive impairment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 325-325
Author(s):  
Erin Harrell ◽  
Nelson Roque

Abstract One modifiable risk factor of dementia is cognitive inactivity. Given cognitive ability is closely tied to continual performance of instrumental activities of daily living, cognitive training programs continue to be explored as a way to boost cognition and allow older adults to remain independent longer. While the efficacy of cognitive training is controversial, identifying activities older adults are willing to limit in exchange for cognitive training provides valuable information in relation to designing cognitive training programs that appeal to older adults. Using a qualitative approach, this study highlights activities older adults (ages 64+) noted as contributing to decreased gameplay of a cognitive training program on a tablet device. We found that respondents (61%) noted playing less as a result of entertainment activities (i.e., reading and playing games), social activities (31%) and travel (27%). Findings have implications for device form factor in administering cognitive training and other programs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 234-235
Author(s):  
Esha Chakravarty ◽  
Indrani Chakravarty ◽  
Ipsito Chakravarty ◽  
Prasenjit Bhattacharjee

Abstract Loss of balance and risk of falls is a major problem in older persons. Literature shows increasing use of yoga practices and dance therapy across Indian oldage homes and day care centres to improve balance and reduce risk of falls in older persons. Aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of dance therapy with focus on therapeutic movements derived from Indian classical dances on balance and risk of falls in older adults of Day Care Centres in Calcutta Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India. Total of 24 older adults across 2 day care centres participated in the study attending dance therapy sessions for 3 months. All of them self reported problems of balance and repeated falls alongwith difficulties in performing Activities of Daily Living. Twenty one of them were females and 3 males. The mean age of the participants was 75.5 years. Limits of Stabililty (LOS) was used to measure balance and pre tests and post tests were performed. Results showed that the Limits of Stability were significantly higher (17.5%) in older persons after participating in the dance therapy sessions. This study supports that dance therapy using movements derived from Indian classical dance forms can support older persons to function with reduced risk of falls, improved balance, safely carry out mobility tasks and perform better Activities of Daily Living . Further studies can show how dance therapy can facilitate healthy ageing and influence State policies on healthy ageing.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alwerdt ◽  
Patterson ◽  
Sliwinski

Sex hormone changes in adults are known to play a part in aging, including cognitive aging. Dietary intake of phytoestrogens can mimic estrogenic effects on brain function. Since sex hormones differ between genders, it is important to examine gender differences in the phytoestrogen–cognition association. Therefore, the goal of this study is to examine the relationship between urinary phytoestrogens and speed of processing (SOP) and the variation of the association between genders in older adults. Participants were drawn from the 1999–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and included 354 individuals aged 65–85 years old. General linear models (GLMs) were used to test for significant gender differences in the relationship between phytoestrogens and SOP. Results from the GLMs showed significant gender differences in the relationship between genistein and SOP. Higher levels of genistein were associated with better SOP in women. This relationship was reversed in men: higher genistein levels were associated with worse performance. Results indicate that there are distinct gender differences in the relationship between genistein and SOP. These results emphasize the importance of considering gender differences when devising dietary and pharmacologic interventions that target phytoestrogens to improve brain health.


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