Comparative study of functional limitation and disability in old age: Delhi and New York city.

Cross-national variation in elder health is well established, with older adults in developing countries reporting poorer health than elders in developed countries. However, cross-national research using performance-based assessment is rare. We examined grip strength in American and Indian elders using a common methodology and found that older adults in India had significantly poorer strength than the US sample even when matched for age, gender, medical conditions, and self-rated disability. The difference in performance is likely explained by life-long differences in nutrition, occupational demands, and access to medical care. These differences in health among people who have survived to old age may also explain differences in life expectancy in later life.