Lin Kuan-Chia, Chi Lin-Yang, Twisk Jos W R, Lee Hui-Lan, Chen Pau-Chung
School of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taiwan.
Exp Aging Res. 2011 May;37(3):358-76. doi: 10.1080/0361073X.2011.572061.
This study used community-based cohort data to explore the trajectory stability (tracking coefficient or stability coefficient) and its influencing factors on the longitudinal age-related change in physical performance among older populations. An integrated statistical method with generalized estimating equations was applied to study trajectory stability. The study particularly demonstrated a mixed representation regarding the significant trajectories of intact and reduced physical performance over time. It is important to note that the trajectory stability of reduced physical performance was higher in females (odds ratio [OR] = 7.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.04-11.93) than in males (OR = 5.65; 95% CI: 4.09-7.79). However, for intact physical performance, the coefficient was 3.52 (95% CI: 2.76-4.48) in males and 2.55 (95% CI: 1.91-3.41) in females. There are further gender differences based on the influence of demographic, psychological, lifestyle, and biological variables in relation to the trajectories of physical performance. The authors conclude that an understanding of trajectory stability, as well as the factors affecting these trajectories in physical performance, is essential to the development of prevention programs tailored to maintaining functional ability or preventing the loss of physical function among older people.
本研究使用基于社区的队列数据，以探讨老年人群体能纵向年龄相关变化的轨迹稳定性（追踪系数或稳定性系数）及其影响因素。应用广义估计方程的综合统计方法来研究轨迹稳定性。该研究特别展示了随着时间推移，体能完好和体能下降的显著轨迹的混合表现。需要注意的是，体能下降的轨迹稳定性在女性中（优势比[OR]=7.76；95%置信区间[CI]：5.04 - 11.93）高于男性（OR = 5.65；95% CI：4.09 - 7.79）。然而，对于体能完好的情况，男性的系数为3.52（95% CI：2.76 - 4.48），女性为2.55（95% CI：1.91 - 3.41）。基于人口统计学、心理、生活方式和生物学变量对体能轨迹的影响，还存在进一步的性别差异。作者得出结论，了解轨迹稳定性以及影响体能轨迹的因素，对于制定旨在维持老年人功能能力或预防身体功能丧失的预防计划至关重要。
