Wang, Jingwen and Wang, Qian and Hou, Xiang-Yu and Chen, Sunan and Guo, Zhen and Du, Wei and Fan, Lijun (2021) Spousal Concordance in the Development of Functional Limitations Among Married Adults in China. JAMA Network Open, 4 (9):e2125577. pp. 1-14. ISSN 2574-3805
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Spousal Concordance in the Development of Functional Limitations Among Married Adults in China - JAMA Neywork Open.pdf Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Importance: Functional limitation is increasingly common as people age and is often associated with negative consequences. Evidence of the dynamics of functional limitation within couples in China is still inadequate.
Objectives: To examine whether functional limitation was associated within middle-aged and older couples and to explore sex differences in spousal associations.
Design, setting, and participants: In this nationwide, population-based cohort study performed from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2018, participants were selected using multistage probability sampling, and 5207 community-dwelling couples (10 414 individuals) 45 years or older were included in the nationally representative China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Data analysis was performed from January 1 to February 28, 2021.
Exposures: The exposure variable was the presence of functional limitation in spouses. Functional limitation was measured by the activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) scales and was defined as having difficulty in independently performing at least 1 ADL or IADL item.
Main outcomes and measures: The main outcome was functional limitation in index participants. Multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations was used to estimate the reciprocal association of functional limitation within couples over time.
Results: A total of 5207 married, different-sex couples (mean [SD] age, 59.1 [8.8] years for husbands and 57.0 [8.2] years for wives) were included in the study. For husbands, the number (percentage) of participants classified with baseline functional limitation was 1140 (21.9%), the number (percentage) with ADL limitation was 684 (13.1%), and the number (percentage) with IADL limitation was 834 (16.0%). For wives, the number (percentage) of participants classified with baseline functional limitation was 1502 (28.8%), the number (percentage) with ADL limitation was 887 (17.0%), and the number (percentage) with IADL limitation was 1183 (22.7%). Longitudinal results demonstrated an association in spouses developing functional limitation (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.55; 95% CI, 2.41-2.69; P < .001), ADL limitation (adjusted OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 2.11-2.41; P < .001), and IADL limitation (adjusted OR, 2.58; 95% CI, 2.43-2.73; P < .001). Subgroup analyses by sex revealed similar patterns of spousal health concordance in terms of all studied outcomes, indicating no sex specificity.
Conclusions and relevance: This population-based cohort study suggests that among Chinese middle-aged and older couples there is significant concordance in the development of functional limitation. This study of spousal functional ability from a dyadic perspective may help in the understanding of health risks within a wider familial context and offers novel insights for prioritizing policy focus from individual centered to couple based.
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Item Type: | Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C) |
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Refereed: | Yes |
Item Status: | Live Archive |
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Health and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current - Institute for Resilient Regions - Centre for Health Research (1 Apr 2020 -) |
Date Deposited: | 05 Oct 2021 05:02 |
Last Modified: | 03 Nov 2021 02:03 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | Spousal Concordance, Functional Limitations, Elderly, China |
Fields of Research (2008): | 11 Medical and Health Sciences > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111706 Epidemiology |
Fields of Research (2020): | 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4202 Epidemiology > 420201 Behavioural epidemiology 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4202 Epidemiology > 420210 Social epidemiology |
Socio-Economic Objectives (2008): | C Society > 92 Health > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920408 Health Status (e.g. Indicators of Well-Being) |
Socio-Economic Objectives (2020): | 20 HEALTH > 2004 Public health (excl. specific population health) > 200403 Disability and functional capacity |
Identification Number or DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.25577 |
URI: | http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/43529 |
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