Changes in the prevalence of mobility limitations and mobile life expectancy of older adults in Singapore, 1995-2005.
OBJECTIVE
To examine changes in the prevalence of mobility limitations and mobile life expectancy of Singaporeans aged 55+.


METHODS
Data came from the cross-sectional 1995 and 2005 National Survey of Senior Citizens (NSSC; n = 4,750 and n = 4,591, respectively). The prevalence-based Sullivan method was used to disaggregate total life expectancy into expected life time without and with mobility limitations.


RESULTS
Increases in life expectancy in the city-state were accompanied by increases in the prevalence of mobility limitations-from 3.0% to 5.7% for men and 5.1% to 9.7% for women. The impairments mostly began after age 65 and increased with age particularly at ages 85+. The proportion of life expectancy without mobility limitations declined over time, at all ages, and for both genders, with women still experiencing a higher proportion with mobility problems compared to men.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall results provided support for the expansion of morbidity hypothesis, and we discussed some possible reasons. From a policy perspective, the findings could suggest a need to develop infrastructures that would enable older Singaporeans to remain mobile in a highly urban setting.
Yong
Vanessa
V
Nihon University Population Research Institute, 12-5 Goban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8251, Japan. vanessa.yong@nihon-u.ac.jp
Saito
Yasuhiko
Y
Chan
Angelique
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008017:Life Expectancy / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology