title: Social inequality in dynamic balance performance in an early old age Spanish population: the role of health and lifestyle associated factors.
abstract: This study investigates the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and dynamic balance performance and whether lifestyle factors explained any possible associations. A total of 448 nondisabled individuals, age-range 54-75 years and enrolled in the Active Aging Longitudinal Study of Spain in 2006, constituted the study population. Baseline data of this cross-sectional study were obtained by personal interviews and objective measures of balance performance. The present study shows an educational gradient in poor dynamic balance, where individuals with no formal education had higher risk of poor balance, also after adjustment for age, gender, obesity and physical activity. In addition, obesity and sedentary physical activity were related to poor dynamic balance. The findings suggest an independent effect of both SES and behavioral factors on poor balance performance in the older Spanish population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin s/n (Campus Universitario de Cantoblanco), 28049 Madrid, Spain. santiago.rodrguez@estudiante.uam.es
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodríguez López
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Rikke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montero
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández-Ballesteros
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Avlund
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D004856:Postural Balance; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain