title: Is car use related with successful aging of older adults? Results from the multinational Mediterranean islands study.
abstract: The aim of the present work was to evaluate the relation between car use and the level of successful aging of a random sample of older adults living in the Mediterranean basin.
  
  
  
  During 2005-2011, 2749 older (aged 65-100 years) from 22 islands and the rural Mani region (Peloponnesus) of Greece were voluntarily enrolled in the Mediterranean islands cross-sectional study. Sociodemographics, medical conditions, and dietary and lifestyle habits were derived throughout standard procedures. Car use was recorded with a standard binary question. A successful aging index ranging from 0-10 was used.
  
  
  
  Older adults who used a car on regular basis had significantly higher levels of successful aging, as well as less prevalence of obesity and hypertension while were more physically active (P < .001). After adjusting for several confounders car use was still positively related with elderly islander's successful aging level (beta coefficient [95% confidence interval]: 0.65 [0.54-0.77]).
  
  
  
  In conclusion, the activity of car use seems to be an indicator of quality of life among older adults, as measured through successful aging.
authors.affiliation: Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tyrovolas
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polychronopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Marianthi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morena
authors.affiliation: Health Center of Areopolis, General Hospital of Sparta, Areopolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Anargiros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mariolis
authors.affiliation: Nutrition, Family and Consumer Studies Office, University of Malta, Msida, Republic of Malta.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piscopo
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Animal Science Department, Plants for Human Health Institute, NC State University, Kannapolis.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valacchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bountziouka
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Foteini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anastasiou
authors.affiliation: Health Center of Kalloni, General Hospital of Mitilini, Mitilini, Greece.
authors.forename: Akis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeimbekis
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tyrovola
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Foscolou
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Efthimios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gotsis
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Metallinos
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soulis
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, Universitat de les Illes Balears & CIBERobn, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep-Antoni
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tur
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matalas
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lionis
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
authors.forename: Labros S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Sidossis
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: dbpanag@hua.gr.
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panagiotakos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008521:Mediterranean Islands; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Car use; Driving; Mediterranean islands; Older adults; Successful aging