Successful Aging in Colombia: The Role of Disease

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of successful aging (SA) and identify its predictive factors in a cohort of older people in the Colombian Andes Mountain. Method: Data were drawn from a prospective longitudinal study of community-dwelling elderly people in Manizales. SA encompassed indicators in four domains: physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning. Results: The prevalence of SA was 24.4%. The independent predictors were good and very good self-rated health, middle–high/high-income level, absence of chronic conditions, married status, high educational level, and very high spirituality. Discussion: The prevalence of SA was low: One of 10 people older than 65 years showed SA when presence of diseases was included in the criteria, compared with one of four when such an item was excluded. The identification of predictive factors allows distinguishing this population in primary care services and promoting strategies that ensure high functionality levels for as long as possible.

A study on the relationship between perceptions of successful aging and life satisfaction of Turkish elderly people

“…For instance, while being healthy is important in Western societies, other factors can be important in Eastern societies . In contrast to the results of the present study whose participants were from an Eastern society, a study conducted in Colombia whose participants were from a Western society found that elderly people with chronic diseases had a low perception of successful aging . The difference between the results may have been influenced not only by the cultural characteristics of the societies but also by their perspective on aging.…”

Robust older adults in primary care: factors associated with successful aging

“…The reduction in the prevalence of robustness among those aged 80 years or older was evidenced in this study. Other studies, despite using different instruments, but similar criteria, also showed that young-old adults are healthier and more robust 2,10,18,20 . However, aging includes multidimensional issues 7,8 with involvement of different predictors, which are influenced in the course of life 1,11,16 .…”

“…Similarly, categorization for age groups is different among studies, as well as the methodologies used. Rowe and Kahn's classic proposal 9 , despite the scientific debate about it, continues to significantly influence all discussions on this subject [15][16][17][18][19][20] . Studies on the field are promising, but there is no conceptual consensus or universally standardized instruments for the evaluation 5,15,17,19 .…”

“…These data were also found for age-stratified analysis. Other studies have also shown how the presence of disabilities and polypathology produces clinical and functional vulnerability in individuals, with negative impacts in health and lifespan 1,2,4,10,18,31 .…”

“…The independent variables were composed by the sociodemographic profile (sex, age group, education, marital status and family income in minimum wages at the time -R$ 937.00) while the determinants of successful aging were based on Rowe and Kahn's traditional model 9 . This model, although criticized, still has influence and is widely used in the literature 2,3,[15][16][17][18] . It encompasses the domains and variables evaluated in this study: social engagement (self-perception of health, reading habits, dance practice and loneliness), upkeep of physical and cognitive capacity (walking, sports practice, cognitive impairment measured by the Mini Examination of Mental State [MMSE] and depressive symptoms by the Short Psychiatric Evaluation Schedule [SPES]) and absence of diseases and disabilities (polypathology and functional independence evaluated through their activities of daily life [ADL]).…”