Ageing and Health. Spanish Longitudinal Study

Overview

Age with Health is a longitudinal cohort study aimed to examine trajectories of health, disability and wellbeing and their determinants for Spanish ageing population. The data that makes up the baseline was collected from a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized adults as part of the "Collaborative Research on Aging in Europe (COURAGE in Europe)" project between July 2011 and May 2012. The second wave was carried out as part of the "Age with Health" project between December 2014 and June 2015, and three years later, in 2018, the third wave was carried out. In 2019-2021, a new cohort of participants were brought in (2019 cohort), some of whom were interviewed again by telephone during the first Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, in early 2020. During 2022 a new evaluation of the participants of both cohorts (2011 and 2019) is expected.

Study Design: A prospective cohort general population study. Sample: Wave 1: A nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized adults aged 18 years or older from the Spanish population was collected (with an over-sampling of people aged 50+ years). A multi-stage clustered design was employed; four strata based on the number of inhabitants of the municipalities were built for each of the 17 Spanish autonomous communities. Clusters were selected within the strata with a probability of inclusion relative to their size. Within each cluster, households were randomly selected from a list of all households. In case there was more than one individual from the corresponding age group in the household, a random method was employed to select the individual participant. Wave 2: Wave 1 sample was re-interviewed (Wave 2) in 2014-2015. Wave 3: in 2018, participants were again evaluated. Complementarily, between 2019 and 2021 a new sample from the regions of Madrid and Barcelona were brought in, and it was interviewed again by telephone during the first COVID-19 lockdown, in May-June 2020. Wave 4: a new evaluation of the participants of both cohorts 2011 and 2019 was carried out, in the fist case it terminated in 2022, while the data collection for 2019 cohort is still going on, expected to terminate for December 2023. Wave 5: a new and last evaluation is expected for both cohort in 2025. Data collection: Face-to-face interviews by Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing at the respondents' homes by trained interviewers. All interviewers received a standardized training. Data quality control was also performed. A proxy interview was administered in those cases in which the participant presents physical or cognitive limitations that may impede the correct administration of the individual interview. Main project objectives: To assess trajectories of general health, disability and well-being in Spanish ageing population. Secondary objectives: To identify trajectories of healthy ageing (in terms of physical health, mental health, functioning and well-being) in Spanish adult population as well as their determinants To analyse prevalence and impact of chronic health conditions, mental health problems, well-being and loneliness on mortality in Spanish adult population. To determine risk factors for incidence and persistence of mental and physical health problems in Spanish ageing population. Main project hypotheses: The trajectories of health, functioning and well-being will be encompassed by relevant environmental factors such as social support, loneliness and health care utilization, personal factors (socio-demographic characteristics, healthy lifestyles, and high cognitive reserve among others) and other biological and health-related factors (weight, height, waist circumference, executive functions, blood pressure, grip strength, vision acuity, presence of mental and physical health problems and quality of life).