title: Associations between socioeconomic status, aging and functionality among older women.
abstract: To assess if there is an association between socioeconomic status and quality of life, functional status and markers of aging, we studied 86 women aged 73 ± 7 years, who answered the WHO Qol Bref quality of life survey. Mini mental state examination, timed up and go test, 12 minutes' walk, hand grip and quadriceps strength, dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), carotid intima-media thickness and telomere length in peripheral leukocytes were measured. Successful aging was defined as a walking speed, handgrip strength, appendicular lean body mass, timed up and go and minimental values above cutoff points for disability. Participants with successful aging had a higher quality of life score and were more likely to live in rich municipalities. There was a positive correlation between telomere length, right handgrip strength and total fat free mass. Therefore, there is an association between socioeconomic status, successful aging and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Chile. Electronic address: gbarrera@inta.uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barrera
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cases
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bunout
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: María Pía
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: de la Maza
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leiva
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirsch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Education; Functional capacity; Socioeconomic level