Lifestyle and psychosocial factors and a decline in competence in daily living among Japanese early elderly people: from an age-specified community-based cohort study (NISSIN project)

Environ Health Prev Med. 2019 May 6;24(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s12199-019-0787-7.

Abstract

Background: To let the early elderly live well, understanding how lifestyle and psychosocial factors related to a decline in competence in daily living is important.

Methods: We investigated the associations between lifestyle and psychosocial factors at age 64 years and a decline in the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence score of ≥ 2 points at age 70 years among the participants in comprehensive medical check-ups living in a city in Japan. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed separately for men and women.

Results: Of the 1113 eligible men and 1203 eligible women, 110 men and 80 women showed a deteriorated competence in daily living during the 6 years. In men, risk was increased with ≥ 2 nighttime awakenings (multivariable odds ratio [mOR] 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-3.86) and living alone (mOR 4.68, 95% CI 1.22-18.0), whereas risk was significantly decreased with a medium or fast gait (mOR 0.37 and 0.21, 95% CI 0.21-0.67 and 0.08-0.58) and high academic achievement (mOR 0.32 and 0.43, 95% CI 0.19-0.53 and 0.25-0.72). In women, risk was decreased with high life satisfaction (mOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.91) and participation in community activities (mOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.29-0.86) but increased with depressive mood (mOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.09-3.18).

Conclusion: Living alone for men and low life satisfaction for women at age 64 years were markedly associated with the risk of a subsequent declining competence in daily living.

Keywords: Aging; Cohort studies; Lifestyle; Physical functional performance; Risk factors.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living / psychology*
  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Community-Based Participatory Research
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Healthy Aging
  • Humans
  • Independent Living / psychology
  • Independent Living / statistics & numerical data
  • Japan
  • Life Style*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Physical Functional Performance
  • Protective Factors
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires