The Global Activity Limitation Index measured function and disability similarly across European countries.
OBJECTIVE
This work aims to validate and increase understanding of the Global Activity Limitation Index (GALI), an activity limitation measure from which the new structural indicator Healthy Life Years is generated.


METHODS
Data from the Survey of Health and Retirement in Europe, covering 11 European countries and 27,340 individuals older than 50 years, was used to investigate how the GALI was associated with other existing measures of function and disability and whether the GALI was consistent or reflected different levels of health in different countries.


RESULTS
The GALI was significantly associated with the two subjective measures of activities of daily living score and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) score, and the two objective measures of maximum grip strength and walking speed (P<0.001 in all cases). The GALI did not differ significantly between countries in terms of how it reflected three of the health measures, with the exception being IADL.


CONCLUSIONS
The GALI appears to satisfactorily reflect levels of function and disability as assessed by long-standing objective and subjective measures, both across Europe and in a similar way between countries.
Jagger
Carol
C
Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom. carol.jagger@ncl.c.uk
Gillies
Clare
C
Cambois
Emmanuelle
E
Van Oyen
Herman
H
Nusselder
Wilma
W
Robine
Jean-Marie
JM
D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires