ArticleThe lancet. Healthy longevity2021
Sex differences in functional limitations and the role of socioeconomic factors: a multi-cohort analysis.
Article in The lancet. Healthy longevity, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
32 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Associations between biomarkers and skeletal muscle function in individuals with osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Arthritis research & therapy · 2024Pooled it
- Biomarkers associated with lower limb muscle function in individuals with sarcopenia: a systematic review.Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle · 2022Pooled it
- Association between muscle-specific strength and disability in instrumental activities of daily living in patients with chronic kidney disease.International urology and nephrology · 2026Article
- Contrast Sensitivity Impairment Is Associated With Limitations of Physical Functioning and Activities of Daily Living Among Older Adults.Journal of aging and health · 2026Article
- Socioeconomic inequalities in functional ageing trajectories in England and Canada: A comparative longitudinal cohort study.PLoS medicine · 2026Article
- Association of gut microbiome with mobility impairment in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.NPJ biofilms and microbiomes · 2026Article
- Identifying a fitness tool in early old-age to predict long-term risk of disability, severe disability, and mortality.GeroScience · 2026Article
- Cross-Sectional Associations of Body Mass Index With Disability Across High- and Middle-Income Countries in 2002-2006 and 2015-2018.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2026Review
- Multiethnic community cardio-metabolic risk factor screening in Northeast Florida: The VIDASANA Project.American heart journal plus : cardiology research and practice · 2026Article
- Plasma lipids connecting olfaction with cognition and physical function.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Reasons for long-term care need: analyzing combinations of health limitations in Germany.Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie · 2026Article
- The toll of caregiving: life-course family care and disparities in physical functioning.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2026Article
- Added effects of dual-task water-based exercise on global cognition and physical performance in older women: a three-arm randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Article
- Psychometric comparison and score conversion between World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 and activities of daily living scales in community-dwelling older adults.European geriatric medicine · 2025Observational
- Health-related quality of life trajectories among older breast cancer survivors: a SEER-MHOS analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Article
- Observational
- Informal Care Receiving Among Older Adults: The Role of Multimorbidity and Intersectional Social Position.The Gerontologist · 2025Article
- Sex and education differences in trajectories of physiological ageing: longitudinal analysis of a prospective English cohort study.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2025Article
- Life course socioeconomic position and care dependency in later life: a longitudinal multicohort study from 17 countries.EClinicalMedicine · 2025Article
- Trends in functional limitations among middle-aged and older adults in the Asia-Pacific: survey evidence from 778,507 observations across six countries.The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundWomen are more likely to have functional limitations than are men, partly because of greater socioeconomic disadvantage. However, how sex differences vary by severity of functional limitations remains unclear. We examined sex differences in functional limitations, with attention to socioeconomic factors and severity of limitations.
methodsLongitudinal data on limitations in basic activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and mobility activities were drawn from 62 375 participants from 14 countries. For ADL, IADL, and mobility, participants were categorised based on number of limited activities (0, 1, 2, or ≥3). Sex differences in limitations in four birth cohorts (1895-1929, 1930-38, 1939-45, and 1946-60) were analysed before and after adjustment for socioeconomic factors (education and labour force status).
findingsThe prevalence of IADL and ADL limitations was higher in women than in men. After adjustment for socioeconomic factors, this sex difference was attenuated. The sex difference in IADL limitations at age 75 years (in the 1895-1929 cohort) was 3·7% before adjustment for socioeconomic factors (95% CI 2·6-4·7) and 1·7% (1·1-2·2) after adjustment. For ADL, the sex difference in limitations at age 75 years (in the 1895-1929 cohort) was 3·2% (2·3-4·1) before adjustment for socioeconomic factors and 1·4% (0·9-1·8) after adjustment. Sex differences in mobility limitations (16·1%, 95% CI 14·4-17·7) remained after adjustment for socioeconomic factors (14·3%, 12·7-15·9). After age 85 years, women were more likely to have three or more IADL or mobility limitations and men were more likely to have one or two limitations.
interpretationSocioeconomic factors largely explain sex differences in IADL and ADL limitations but not mobility. Sex differences in mobility limitations in midlife are important targets for future research and interventions.
fundingNational Institute on Aging, UK National Institute for Health Research, European Commission, and US Social Security Administration.
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