Linda Juel Ahrenfeldt1, Lasse Lybecker Scheel-Hincke1, Søren Kjærgaard2, Sören Möller3,4, Kaare Christensen1,5,6,7, Rune Lindahl-Jacobsen1. 1. Unit of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 2. Interdisciplinary Center on Population Dynamics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 3. OPEN - Odense Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. 4. Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 5. Danish Aging Research Center, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 6. Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. 7. Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cross-national comparison studies on gender differences have mainly focussed on life expectancy, while less research has examined differences in health across countries. We aimed to investigate gender differences in cognitive function and grip strength over age and time across European regions. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study including 51 292 men and 62 007 women aged 50 + participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe between 2004-05 and 2015. Linear regression models were used to examine associations. RESULTS: In general, women had better cognitive function than men, whereas men had higher grip strength measures. Sex differences were consistent over time, but decreased with age. Compared with men, women had higher cognitive scores at ages 50-59, corresponding to 0.17 SD (95% CI 0.14, 0.20) but slightly lower scores at ages 80-89 (0.08 SD, 95% CI 0.14, 0.00). For grip strength, the sex difference decreased from 18.8 kg (95% CI 18.5, 19.1) at ages 50-59 to 8.5 kg (95% CI 7.1, 9.9) at age 90 + . Northern Europeans had higher cognitive scores (19.6%) and grip strength measures (13.8%) than Southern Europeans. Gender differences in grip strength were similar across regions, whereas for cognitive function they varied considerably, with Southern Europe having a male advantage from ages 60-89. CONCLUSION: Our results illustrate that gender differences in health depend on the selected health dimension and the age group studied, and emphasize the importance of considering regional differences in research on cognitive gender differences.
BACKGROUND: Cross-national comparison studies on gender differences have mainly focussed on life expectancy, while less research has examined differences in health across countries. We aimed to investigate gender differences in cognitive function and grip strength over age and time across European regions. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study including 51 292 men and 62 007 women aged 50 + participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe between 2004-05 and 2015. Linear regression models were used to examine associations. RESULTS: In general, women had better cognitive function than men, whereas men had higher grip strength measures. Sex differences were consistent over time, but decreased with age. Compared with men, women had higher cognitive scores at ages 50-59, corresponding to 0.17 SD (95% CI 0.14, 0.20) but slightly lower scores at ages 80-89 (0.08 SD, 95% CI 0.14, 0.00). For grip strength, the sex difference decreased from 18.8 kg (95% CI 18.5, 19.1) at ages 50-59 to 8.5 kg (95% CI 7.1, 9.9) at age 90 + . Northern Europeans had higher cognitive scores (19.6%) and grip strength measures (13.8%) than Southern Europeans. Gender differences in grip strength were similar across regions, whereas for cognitive function they varied considerably, with Southern Europe having a male advantage from ages 60-89. CONCLUSION: Our results illustrate that gender differences in health depend on the selected health dimension and the age group studied, and emphasize the importance of considering regional differences in research on cognitive gender differences.
Authors: David N Proctor; Elizabeth B Fauth; Lesa Hoffman; Scott M Hofer; Gerald E McClearn; Stig Berg; Boo Johansson Journal: Aging Clin Exp Res Date: 2006-12 Impact factor: 3.636
Authors: Diana Kuh; E Joan Bassey; Suzanne Butterworth; Rebecca Hardy; Michael E J Wadsworth Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Henrik Frederiksen; Jacob Hjelmborg; Jakob Mortensen; Matt McGue; James W Vaupel; Kaare Christensen Journal: Ann Epidemiol Date: 2006-01-10 Impact factor: 3.797
Authors: Hanne Nybo; Hans Chr Petersen; David Gaist; Bernard Jeune; Kjeld Andersen; Matt McGue; James W Vaupel; Kaare Christensen Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2003-10 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Linda Juel Ahrenfeldt; Sören Möller; Mikael Thinggaard; Kaare Christensen; Rune Lindahl-Jacobsen Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2019-06-24 Impact factor: 3.380
Authors: Linda Juel Ahrenfeldt; Jacob Krabbe Pedersen; Mikael Thinggaard; Kaare Christensen; Rune Lindahl-Jacobsen Journal: J Epidemiol Community Health Date: 2019-12-16 Impact factor: 3.710
Authors: Rachel Cooper; Vladimir M Shkolnikov; Alexander V Kudryavtsev; Sofia Malyutina; Andrew Ryabikov; Laila Arnesdatter Hopstock; Jonas Johansson; Sarah Cook; David A Leon; Bjørn Heine Strand Journal: J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle Date: 2021-10-03 Impact factor: 12.063