title: Social patterning in grip strength, chair rise, and walk speed in an aging population: the Czech HAPIEE Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to examine the association of objective measures of physical functioning (PF) with education and material circumstances and the decline in PF with age by socioeconomic position (SEP).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 3,205 subjects (60-75 years) from the Czech Republic, we assessed relationship between PF, SEP, and age. Linear regression was used to assess PF measures and SEP measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cross-sectional decline in PF by age was similar in all individuals. Differences between SEP groups were similar across age groups, except for the difference in walk speed by material circumstances in men-bigger at older ages (p = .004). Men and women with the highest education were about 2 s faster at the chair rise test than those with the lowest education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest strong educational gradient in PF, an inconsistent role of self-assessed material circumstances, and virtually no interaction of SEP with the cross-sectional decline in PF by age.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Care, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: Jitka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jancova-Vseteckova
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bobak
authors.forename: Ruzena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kubinova
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Capkova
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peasey
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marmot
authors.forename: Hynek
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pikhart
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018153:Czech Republic; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012932:Social Facilitation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*