Longitudinal network dynamics of cardiometabolic, mobility, and psychological indicators among older adults in rural South Africa.

IF 6.2 3区医学 Q1 GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY

Innovation in Aging Pub Date : 2026-05-04 eCollection Date: 2026-01-01 DOI:10.1093/geroni/igag050

Lawrence E Ugwu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background and objectives: Evidence used to define later-life health remains dominated by high-income settings, despite rapid population aging in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined how cardiometabolic indicators, symptom burden, mobility limitation, and psychological functioning co-evolve over time among older adults in rural South Africa.

Research design and methods: We analyzed 3 waves of the Health and Ageing in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI; 2014-2022) among adults 60+ years at baseline (N = 2,807). Seven indicators were modelled: body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), pain burden, sleep duration, mobility limitation, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction. We estimated within-wave Gaussian graphical models and a cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) using full information maximum likelihood.

Results: Cardiometabolic indicators were more temporally stable than psychological indicators (autoregressive coefficients: BMI = 0.77; SBP = 0.49; depressive symptoms = 0.06; life satisfaction = 0.06). Temporal out-strength was highest for BMI (0.843), followed by SBP (0.705) and mobility limitation (0.668), whereas pain (0.165) and sleep duration (0.112) showed lower connectedness. The CLPN showed acceptable model fit (Comparative Fit Index = 0.96, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.03, 90% CI [0.03, 0.04], SRMR = 0.03). Mobility limitation predicted higher later life satisfaction (β = 0.16, p < .05) and showed a small inverse association with later depressive symptoms (β = -0.09, p < .10).

Discussion and implications: Results indicate cardiometabolic indicators and mobility limitation were more temporally connected components of later-life health. These findings support integrated primary-care approaches that combine cardiometabolic monitoring with attention to locomotor function, while the mobility-well-being association warrants cautious interpretation and replication. These associations are observational and should not be interpreted as causal or as purely within-person effects.

查看原文本刊更多论文

南非农村老年人心脏代谢、流动性和心理指标的纵向网络动态。

背景和目标：尽管撒哈拉以南非洲人口迅速老龄化，但用于定义晚年健康的证据仍然主要来自高收入国家。这项研究调查了南非农村老年人的心脏代谢指标、症状负担、活动能力限制和心理功能如何随着时间的推移共同演变。研究设计和方法：我们分析了非洲健康与老龄化的三波：南非INDEPTH社区的纵向研究（HAALSI; 2014-2022），基线时60岁以上的成年人（N = 2,807）。七个指标建模：体重指数（BMI）、收缩压（SBP）、疼痛负担、睡眠时间、活动受限、抑郁症状和生活满意度。我们估计波内高斯图形模型和交叉滞后面板网络（CLPN）使用全信息最大似然。结果：心脏代谢指标比心理指标更稳定（自回归系数：BMI = 0.77；收缩压= 0.49；抑郁症状= 0.06；生活满意度= 0.06）。BMI（0.843）的时间输出强度最高，其次是收缩压（0.705）和活动受限（0.668），而疼痛（0.165）和睡眠持续时间（0.112）的连接度较低。CLPN显示可接受的模型拟合（比较拟合指数= 0.96，近似均方根误差= 0.03,90% CI [0.03, 0.04], SRMR = 0.03）。活动受限预测较高的晚年生活满意度（β = 0.16, p < 0.05），与晚年抑郁症状呈小的负相关（β = -0.09, p < 0.10）。讨论和启示：结果表明，心脏代谢指标和活动能力限制是晚年健康的时间关联成分。这些发现支持将心脏代谢监测与运动功能关注相结合的综合初级保健方法，而运动-健康关联需要谨慎的解释和复制。这些联系是观察性的，不应被解释为因果关系或纯粹的个人影响。

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来源期刊

Innovation in Aging GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY-

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

15 weeks

期刊介绍： Innovation in Aging, an interdisciplinary Open Access journal of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), is dedicated to publishing innovative, conceptually robust, and methodologically rigorous research focused on aging and the life course. The journal aims to present studies with the potential to significantly enhance the health, functionality, and overall well-being of older adults by translating scientific insights into practical applications. Research published in the journal spans a variety of settings, including community, clinical, and laboratory contexts, with a clear emphasis on issues that are directly pertinent to aging and the dynamics of life over time. The content of the journal mirrors the diverse research interests of GSA members and encompasses a range of study types. These include the validation of new conceptual or theoretical models, assessments of factors impacting the health and well-being of older adults, evaluations of interventions and policies, the implementation of groundbreaking research methodologies, interdisciplinary research that adapts concepts and methods from other fields to aging studies, and the use of modeling and simulations to understand factors and processes influencing aging outcomes. The journal welcomes contributions from scholars across various disciplines, such as technology, engineering, architecture, economics, business, law, political science, public policy, education, public health, social and psychological sciences, biomedical and health sciences, and the humanities and arts, reflecting a holistic approach to advancing knowledge in gerontology.