Journal article
Caregiving frequency and physical function: the Women's Health Initiative
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, v 70(2), pp 210-215
Feb 2015
PMID: 25060315
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Informal caregiving is common for older women and can negatively affect health, but its impact on physical function remains unclear. Using inverse probability weighting methods, we quantified the association of caregiving with physical function over 6 years.
Study participants were 5,649 women aged 65 years and older at baseline of the Woman's Health Initiative Clinical Trial (multicenter recruitment, 1993-1998) with complete caregiving data and function at baseline and at least one follow-up. Caregiving was self-reported (low-frequency if ≤2 times per week and high-frequency if ≥3 times per week). Performance-based measures of physical function including timed walk (meters/second), grip strength (kilograms), and chair stands (number) were measured at baseline and years 1, 3, and 6. Associations and 95% confidence intervals of baseline caregiving with physical function were estimated by generalized estimating equations with inverse probability weighting by propensity and attrition scores, calculated by logistic regression of baseline health and demographic characteristics.
Over follow-up, low-frequency caregivers had higher grip strength when compared with noncaregivers (mean difference = 0.63kg, confidence interval: 0.24, 1.01). There were no observed differences between high-frequency caregivers and noncaregivers on grip strength or for either caregiver group when compared with noncaregivers on walk speed or chair stands. Rates of change in physical function measures did not differ by caregiving status.
Caregiving was not associated with poorer physical function in this sample of older women. Low-frequency caregiving was associated with better grip strength at baseline which persisted through follow-up. This study supports the concept that informal caregiving may not have universally negative health consequences.
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Details
- Title
- Caregiving frequency and physical function: the Women's Health Initiative
- Creators
- Andrea L Rosso - Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. alr143@pitt.eduBrian K Lee - Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaMarcia L Stefanick - Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CaliforniaCandyce H Kroenke - Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, CaliforniaLaura H Coker - Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North CarolinaNancy F Woods - School of Nursing, University of Washington, SeattleYvonne L Michael - Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Publication Details
- The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, v 70(2), pp 210-215
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press; United States
- Grant note
- P30 AG024827 / NIA NIH HHS R03AG031973 / NIA NIH HHS T32AG000181 / NIA NIH HHS T32 AG000181 / NIA NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000350121100009
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84922470895
- Other Identifier
- 991014877920504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Geriatrics & Gerontology
- Gerontology