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Factors affecting trajectory patterns of self-rated health (SRH) in an older population : A community-based longitudinal study
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 11/23/2011
Lee HL et al. – Health care professionals must understand the various longitudinal patterns and factors affecting Self–rated health (SRH) trajectories if they are to develop programs aimed at maintaining the older population's health and well–being.
Methods- Data was obtained from the Longitudinal Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan, which was conducted between 1989 and 2003 and included five separate waves of survey.
- 3937 subjects aged 60 or older (2251 males and 1686 females) comprised the major analytic cohort.
- Latent Class Growth Analysis (LCGA) was used to identify developmental classes of trajectory patterns in SRH.
- The results showed that during a 14–year period, SRH developed five major longitudinal trajectories.
- Less than one–third of the older population was able to maintain their formerly good or moderate health status; when change occurred, decline was more likely than improvement.
- LCGA indicated that many demographic characteristics, as well as physical and psychological propensities, were associated with poor SRH in the older population.
- Specifically, these factors played a role in involving baseline SRH level and its trend toward deterioration in later life.