Measures of aging with disability in U.S. secondary data sets: Results of a scoping review.
BACKGROUND
There remain significant knowledge gaps in our understanding of aging with long-term disability. It is possible that important advances in knowledge could be gained using existing secondary data sets. However, little is known regarding which of the data sets available to researchers contain the age-related measures needed for this purpose, specifically age of onset and/or duration of disability measures.


OBJECTIVE
To better understand the capacity to investigate aging with long-term disability (e.g. mobility limitation) and aging with long-term chronic conditions (e.g. spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis) using extant data.


METHODS
Public use national and regional data sets were identified through existing reports, web-based searches, and expert nomination. The age- and disability-related variables, including age of onset and duration of disability, were tabulated for data sets meeting inclusion criteria. Analysis was descriptive.


RESULTS
A total of N = 44 data sets were reviewed. Of these, 22 contained both age and disability variables. Within these 22 data sets, 9 contained an age of onset or duration of disability variable. Six of the nine data sets contained age of diagnosis for a single or set of health conditions. Onset of functional limitation is in two, and onset of self-reported and/or employment disability is in four, of the nine data sets respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
There is some, but limited opportunity to investigate aging with long-term disability in extant U.S. public use secondary data sets.
Simmons College, School of Social Work, 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: michelle.putnam@simmons.edu.
Michelle
M
Putnam
Healthy Aging RRTC, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Box 356490, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Ivan R
IR
Molton
Healthy Aging RRTC, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Box 356490, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Anjali R
AR
Truitt
Healthy Aging RRTC, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Box 356490, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Amanda E
AE
Smith
Healthy Aging RRTC, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Box 356490, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Mark P
MP
Jensen
D000375:Aging; D002908:Chronic Disease; D066264:Datasets as Topic; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States
Aging; Disability; Measurement; Quantitative analysis; Secondary data