1. Associations between socioeconomic status, aging and functionality among older women
- Author
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Daniel Bunout, Juan Manuel Rodríguez, Tania Cases, Gladys Barrera, María Pía de la Maza, Sandra Hirsch, and Laura Leiva
- Subjects
Gerontology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Aging ,Timed Up and Go test ,Walking ,030204 cardiovascular system & hematology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Quality of life ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,medicine ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Muscle Strength ,Socioeconomic status ,Aged ,Mini–Mental State Examination ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Successful aging ,Hand Strength ,Preferred walking speed ,Social Class ,Lean body mass ,Physical therapy ,Body Composition ,Quality of Life ,Functional status ,Female ,Psychology - 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.
- Published
- 2014