Gender differences in lower extremity function in Latin American elders: seeking explanations from a life-course perspective.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined the contribution of life-course exposures to gender differences in mobility in later life.


METHODS
Data originate from a survey of persons aged 60 and older living in six Latin American and Caribbean cities (n = 10,661). Lower extremity limitations (LEL) were defined as the presence of three or more reported difficulties with five activities: lifting and carrying 10 lb, walking several blocks, climbing a flight of stairs, kneeling/ stooping/crouching, and getting up from a chair. Data were pooled after testing homogeneity of effects across cities. A multivariate model was fitted using logistic regression analysis. Complete data analyses were performed on 8,166 (72%) participants.


RESULTS
Prevalence of LEL varies across cities (9.3-23.7% in men, 23.3-42.9% in women). Intervening life-course and health factors explained a small proportion of the gender difference in LEL (odds ratio = 2.39; 95% confidence interval = 2.04-2.79). Childhood hunger was predictive of LEL in women, and a stronger association between depression and LEL was found in men than in women. Little education and insufficient income were associated with LEL for both men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
Life-course exposures predict mobility, but further research is needed to identify intervening factors relating gender to mobility in old age.
Alvarado
Beatriz Eugenia
BE
Departement de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Université de Montréal, CP 6128 Succursale Centre Ville, H3C 3J7 Montréal, Québec, Canada. be.alvarado.llano@umontreal.ca
Guerra
Ricardo O
RO
Zunzunegui
Maria Victoria
MV
D000368:Aged; D017691:Caribbean Region; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors