Stratification in health and survival after age 100: evidence from Danish centenarians
Abstract Background The existence of a super-select group of centenarians that demonstrates increased survivorship has been hypothesized. However, it is unknown if this super-select group possesses similar characteristics apart from extreme longevity. Methods In this study, we analyse high-quality h...
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doaj-b1283f94bc534cf594c47b6292117d6f2021-07-04T11:12:30ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182021-07-0121111010.1186/s12877-021-02326-3Stratification in health and survival after age 100: evidence from Danish centenariansJesús-Adrián Alvarez0Anthony Medford1Cosmo Strozza2Mikael Thinggaard3Kaare Christensen4Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics, University of Southern DenmarkInterdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics, University of Southern DenmarkInterdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics, University of Southern DenmarkDanish Aging Research Center, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern DenmarkDanish Aging Research Center, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern DenmarkAbstract Background The existence of a super-select group of centenarians that demonstrates increased survivorship has been hypothesized. However, it is unknown if this super-select group possesses similar characteristics apart from extreme longevity. Methods In this study, we analyse high-quality health and survival data of Danish centenarians born in 1895, 1905 and 1910. We use Latent Class Analysis to identify unobserved health classes and to test whether these super-select lives share similar health characteristics. Results We find that, even after age 100, a clear and distinct gradient in health exists and that this gradient is remarkably similar across different birth cohorts of centenarians. Based on the level of health, we identify three clusters of centenarians - robust, frail and intermediate - and show that these groups have different survival prospects. The most distinctive characteristic of the robust centenarians is the outperformance in different health dimensions (physical, functional and cognitive). Finally, we show that our health class categorizations are good predictors of the survival prospects of centenarians. Conclusions There is a clear stratification in health and functioning among those over 100 years of age and these differences are associated with survival beyond age 100.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02326-3HeterogeneityCentenarianSurvivalHealthLatent class analysis |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Jesús-Adrián Alvarez Anthony Medford Cosmo Strozza Mikael Thinggaard Kaare Christensen |
spellingShingle |
Jesús-Adrián Alvarez Anthony Medford Cosmo Strozza Mikael Thinggaard Kaare Christensen Stratification in health and survival after age 100: evidence from Danish centenarians BMC Geriatrics Heterogeneity Centenarian Survival Health Latent class analysis |
author_facet |
Jesús-Adrián Alvarez Anthony Medford Cosmo Strozza Mikael Thinggaard Kaare Christensen |
author_sort |
Jesús-Adrián Alvarez |
title |
Stratification in health and survival after age 100: evidence from Danish centenarians |
title_short |
Stratification in health and survival after age 100: evidence from Danish centenarians |
title_full |
Stratification in health and survival after age 100: evidence from Danish centenarians |
title_fullStr |
Stratification in health and survival after age 100: evidence from Danish centenarians |
title_full_unstemmed |
Stratification in health and survival after age 100: evidence from Danish centenarians |
title_sort |
stratification in health and survival after age 100: evidence from danish centenarians |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Geriatrics |
issn |
1471-2318 |
publishDate |
2021-07-01 |
description |
Abstract Background The existence of a super-select group of centenarians that demonstrates increased survivorship has been hypothesized. However, it is unknown if this super-select group possesses similar characteristics apart from extreme longevity. Methods In this study, we analyse high-quality health and survival data of Danish centenarians born in 1895, 1905 and 1910. We use Latent Class Analysis to identify unobserved health classes and to test whether these super-select lives share similar health characteristics. Results We find that, even after age 100, a clear and distinct gradient in health exists and that this gradient is remarkably similar across different birth cohorts of centenarians. Based on the level of health, we identify three clusters of centenarians - robust, frail and intermediate - and show that these groups have different survival prospects. The most distinctive characteristic of the robust centenarians is the outperformance in different health dimensions (physical, functional and cognitive). Finally, we show that our health class categorizations are good predictors of the survival prospects of centenarians. Conclusions There is a clear stratification in health and functioning among those over 100 years of age and these differences are associated with survival beyond age 100. |
topic |
Heterogeneity Centenarian Survival Health Latent class analysis |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02326-3 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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