Abstract
BackgroundActive and healthy aging (AHA) is an important phenomenon in aging societies.AimsOur aim was to investigate midlife predictors of AHA in a socioeconomically homogenous male cohort.MethodsIn 2010, AHA was defined in the Helsinki Businessmen Study (men born in 1919–1934) with six criteria: (1) being alive, (2) responding to the mailed survey, (3) no reported cognitive problems, (4) feeling of happiness, (5) no difficulties in activities of daily living (ADL), and (6) no significant chronic diseases. Midlife factors were assessed in 1974 (n = 1759, mean age 47 years). Of the survivors in 2010 (n = 839), 10.0% (n = 84) fulfilled all AHA criteria, whilst 13.7% (n = 115) had chronic diseases but fulfilled other five criteria. Midlife predictors of AHA were analyzed with logistic models.ResultsOf the midlife factors, smoking [Odds ratio (OR) 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25–0.77], higher body mass index (BMI) (OR 0.75, 0.59–0.96), and higher total cholesterol (OR 0.76, 0.60–0.97) prevented significantly full AHA criteria, whereas higher self-rated health (SRH) (OR 1.73, 1.07–2.80) predicted significantly of fulfilling all AHA criteria. Midlife smoking (OR 0.87, 0.84–0.91), higher BMI (OR 0.73, 0.61–0.86), and higher alcohol consumption (OR 0.73, 0.60–0.90) prevented significantly of fulfilling the five AHA criteria with chronic diseases, and higher SRH (OR 1.90, 1.37–2.63) predicted significantly the five AHA criteria (chronic diseases present).DiscussionOur study suggests that midlife factors, especially good SRH and low levels of cardiovascular risk factors, are associated with AHA.ConclusionsThe study emphasizes the importance of life-course predictors of healthy aging.
Highlights
Maintaining a good health and function in old age is an important target in aging societies
Our findings showed that cardiovascular risk factors and Self-rated health (SRH) in midlife are associated with AHA in our businessmen cohort
Non-smoking, lower body mass index (BMI) and alcohol consumption, and higher SRH in midlife were statistically significantly associated with fulfilling five AHA criteria, which include the possibility of one or more chronic diseases
Summary
Maintaining a good health and function in old age is an important target in aging societies. Previous studies with varying age profiles indicate that lifestyle and biological risk factors in midlife are associated with longevity and various aspects of healthy life in old age [8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15]. In the HBS cohort, we have observed the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors in midlife and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in old age [16,17,18,19]. Results Of the midlife factors, smoking [Odds ratio (OR) 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25–0.77], higher body mass index (BMI) (OR 0.75, 0.59–0.96), and higher total cholesterol (OR 0.76, 0.60–0.97) prevented significantly full AHA criteria, whereas higher self-rated health (SRH) (OR 1.73, 1.07–2.80) predicted significantly of fulfilling all AHA criteria. Conclusions The study emphasizes the importance of life-course predictors of healthy aging
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
