title: Changes in combined lifestyle risks and disability transition in older adults: Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, 2006-2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined associations between changes in lifestyle risks and disability in late life.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national sample of Koreans aged ≥ 65 years was surveyed at baseline (2006) and 2-year follow-up (n=3511). Disability transition was categorized as disability-free, improved, maintained, and declined, based on activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) scales. Lifestyle risk factors included current smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, low physical activity, and unhealthy weight. Changes in lifestyle risks were categorized as risk-free, positive (decreased risk), stable, and negative (increased risk). Multinomial logistic regression models examined the influence of changes in lifestyle risks on disability transition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A higher percentage (82.9%) of respondents who were risk-free remained disability-free than those who exhibited positive (71.8%), stable (64.9%), or negative (63.8%) change (p<0.001). Sustaining no lifestyle risks, compared with negative change, was associated with a higher likelihood of remaining disability-free than decline (odds ratio=2.68, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32-5.42), adjusting for covariates. Among individual lifestyle factors, physical activity was predictive of not only functional independence but also improvement and maintenance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older adults adopting more healthy lifestyles are more likely to maintain functional independence than decline. Making healthy lifestyle choices may delay disability progression in later life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, San 5, Wonchun-dong, Youngtong-gu, Suwon 443-721, Republic of Korea. yhlee@ajou.ac.kr
authors.forename: Yunhwan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jinhee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joung Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Back
authors.forename: Seihee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mikyung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors