Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42720597›Full record

ArticleThe journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences2026

Disability trajectories in the last years of life: a Swedish longitudinal multi-cohort study.

Saila Kyrönlahti, Pauliina Halonen, Debora Rizzuto, Anna-Karin Welmer, Linda B Hassing, Deborah Finkel, Stefan Fors, Johan Sanmartin Berglund, Linda Enroth

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Saila KyrönlahtiFaculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences and Gerontology Research Center, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0003-4610-1184
Pauliina HalonenFaculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences and Gerontology Research Center, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Debora RizzutoAging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-6199-9629
Anna-Karin WelmerAging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-5819-8724
Linda B HassingDepartment of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Deborah FinkelInstitute for Gerontology, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden.
Stefan ForsAging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Johan Sanmartin BerglundDepartment of Health, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, Sweden.
Linda EnrothFaculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences and Gerontology Research Center, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-6613-3154

Funding

Center of Excellence in Research of Aging and Care 326567Center of Excellence in Research of Aging and Care 336670
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe patterns and determinants of late-life functional decline are not fully understood. We examined disability trajectories in relation to proximity to death among decedents aged 70 years and older and investigated their associations with sex, age at death, education, cognitive impairment, and chronic conditions.

methodsHarmonized data from six Swedish longitudinal aging studies (1997-2016) within the National E-infrastructure for Aging Research (NEAR) were used. Participants who died at age 70 years or older and had data on activities of daily living (ADL) from at least two assessments were included (N = 2294, 62% women, mean age at death 89.8 years [SD 6.5]). ADL limitations (0-5 scale) were analyzed across four time intervals before death (0-2, >2-4, >4-6, and 6-12 years). Group-based trajectory modelling identified disability trajectories, multinomial logistic regression examined demographic associations, and generalized estimating equations assessed associations of cognitive impairment and chronic conditions with trajectory membership.

resultsThree trajectories were identified: constantly low (53%), low-sharply increasing (36%), and high-increasing (11%). Women, those with lower education, and individuals dying at older ages were more likely to follow increasing or persistently high disability trajectories. A high-increasing trajectory was associated with a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment.

conclusionsFor most, ADL limitations remained low until the final two years of life, though distinct trajectories with steady or sharp increases also emerged. Identifying demographic and health-related factors associated with functional decline may inform targeted interventions and help anticipate care needs.

Indexed as

Activities of Daily LivingAgingPersons with DisabilitiesAgedAged, 80 and overChronic DiseaseCognitive DysfunctionDisability EvaluationFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleSwedenActivities of daily livingAgingCognitive impairmentGroup-based trajectory modelingTime-to-death

Identifiers

PMID42720597

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.