Midlife adults with functional limitations: Comparison of adults with early- and late-onset arthritis-related disability

Background

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability among U.S. adults.

Objective

This study examined how the onset of arthritis-attributable disability affects midlife individuals.

Methods

Using the 2014–2015 National Health Interview Survey, this study compared three groups of midlife adults (ages 50–64): individuals without any physical limitations (n?=?13,779); individuals with early-onset arthritis that has limited their functioning for more than 20 years (n?=?330); and individuals suffering from late-onset arthritis-attributable disability for less than five years (n?=?299), in relation to five domains in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. Stata's SVY procedures were used for bivariate and multivariate comparisons.

Results

Compared with the two groups with arthritis-attributable disability, midlife adults without disability were more likely to be married, college educated, high income, and employed. They also reported considerably lower levels of financial worries, barriers to healthcare access, and psychological distress (p?

Conclusions

This study clearly indicates how experiencing arthritis-attributable disability on top of aging is challenging for midlife adults and how considering the onset of disability is important for practitioners and researchers.