The role of smoking and other modifiable lifestyle risk factors in maintaining and restoring lower body mobility in middle-aged and older Americans: results from the HRS and AHEAD. Health and Retirement Study. Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Ol

TitleThe role of smoking and other modifiable lifestyle risk factors in maintaining and restoring lower body mobility in middle-aged and older Americans: results from the HRS and AHEAD. Health and Retirement Study. Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Ol
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2002
AuthorsOstbye, T, Taylor, Jr., DH, Krause, KM, Scoyoc, LV
JournalJ Am Geriatr Soc
Volume50
Issue4
Pagination691-9
Date Published2002 Apr
ISSN Number0002-8614
Call Numberpubs_2002_ostbye_jags.pdf
KeywordsAge Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alcohol Drinking, Body Mass Index, Exercise, Female, Humans, Leg, Logistic Models, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Marital Status, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Sex Distribution, Smoking, Smoking cessation, United States, Walking
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effect of smoking, smoking cessation, and other modifiable risk factors on mobility in middle-aged and older Americans.

DESIGN: Panel study; secondary data analysis.

SETTING: United States (national sample).

PARTICIPANTS: The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) includes data on 12,652 Americans aged 50 to 61 in four waves (1992-1998). The Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) survey followed 8,124 community-dwelling people aged 70 years and older in three waves (1993-1998).

MEASUREMENTS: The relationships between the primary outcome measure, lower body mobility (ability to walk several blocks and walk up one flight of stairs without difficulty), and smoking, exercise (HRS only), body mass index (BMI), and alcohol use were estimated in bivariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS: Not smoking was strongly positively related to mobility, and the relative effects were similar in both panels. Among those with impaired mobility at baseline, not smoking was also strongly related to recovery. In the middle aged, there were consistent dose-response relationships between amount smoked and impaired mobility. Fifteen years after quitting, the risk of impaired mobility returned to that of never smokers. There was also a strong dose-response relationship between level of exercise and mobility. Inverted U-shaped relationships with mobility were observed for BMI and alcohol consumption.

CONCLUSIONS: The relationships between not smoking and lower body mobility in middle-aged and older Americans are strong and consistent. Interventions aimed at reducing smoking have the potential to preserve mobility and thereby prolong health and independence in later life.

DOI10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50164.x
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11982670?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Middle Aged Adults/Smoking/Mobility Difficulty/Exercise

Endnote ID

8610

Alternate JournalJ Am Geriatr Soc
Citation Key6808
PubMed ID11982670
Grant List1R01-AG16816 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States