Comparative Study of Functional Limitation and Disability in Old Age: Delhi and New York City

Abstract

Cross-national variation in elder health is well established, with older adults in developing countries reporting poorer health than elders in developed countries. However, cross-national research using performance-based assessment is rare. We examined grip strength in American and Indian elders using a common methodology and found that older adults in India had significantly poorer strength than the US sample even when matched for age, gender, medical conditions, and self-rated disability. The difference in performance is likely explained by life-long differences in nutrition, occupational demands, and access to medical care. These differences in health among people who have survived to old age may also explain differences in life expectancy in later life.

Frailty and Nutritional Status among Urban Older Adults in South India

“…This might be due to a decrease in the number and size of muscle fibers with progressing age (type II) and the difference in dietary patterns (especially protein intake). A study reported that older adults in India had significantly poor muscle strength than in the United States [ 14 ]. A cross-sectional study among older North Indians revealed that the GS was found to be lower with increasing age and higher with increasing height in both genders [ 39 ].…”

Physical activity and physical functioning in Swedish and Iranian 75-year-olds – A comparison

“…This might be due to their lower level of physical activity, which could mean less exposure to risks. Grip strength is a commonly used measure of physical activity level and physical functioning in older adults and is often parallel to the lower extremity capacity and overall muscle force [126]. A reason for contradictory results in Study II might be that this variable is supposed to be more influenced by body composition, life style and occupational demands than by ethnicity [127].…”

“…If people age in better health, medical spending may not increase as rapidly. Policymakers need to look at the full picture and consider the savings achieved by reducing disability rates, chronic disease and functional impairments [126,147,165,166]. Establishing appropriate prevention programs will increase the number of healthy older people who can participate in society and even in the work force (through either full or part-time employment) and consequently their contribution to public revenues would increase continuously.…”

Cross-national differences in grip strength among 50+ year-old Europeans: results from the SHARE study

“…A Nordic study of 75-year-olds found significantly lower grip strength values among Finnish, compared to Swedes and Danes, but no difference between the latter two . Albert et al (2005) found significantly lower GS in Indians (India) compared to New York citizens age 60? year-olds after matching for age, gender, medical condition and self-rated disability, but not adjusted for height or socioeconomic status (SES).…”