Key result
Among older adults with coronary heart disease, women experienced more functional impairment and engaged in more self-care than men, with equipment use associated with higher functioning in both.
Why the study?
How do gender and self-care strategies affect functional status in older persons with coronary heart disease?
Cross-Sectional (n=597)
Yes
How do gender and self-care strategies affect functional status in older persons with coronary heart disease?
Older women with CHD experience greater functional impairment and utilize more self-care strategies than men, highlighting the need for gender-specific approaches to disease management and supportive care.
May inform gender-aware supportive care planning in older CHD; hypothesis-generating for equipment interventions on function.
The risk and burdens of cardiovascular diseases rise in late life and shift from men to women at age 65. This study uses baseline data from the National Survey of Self-Care and Aging to assess the association of self-care and functional status of older men and women with coronary heart disease (CHD). We first compare men and women with and without CHD, then base subsequent analyses on 597 persons with CHD. Three types of self-care (behavior changes, environmental adaptations, medical equipment use) were examined, and functional status was measured as difficulty with basic, mobility, and instrumental ADLs. Regardless of gender, persons with CHD had more functional impairment and used more self-care than those without the disease. Women were more impaired and engaged in more self-care than men. Equipment use was associated with higher functioning for men and women. Behavioral changes were significant only for men, as were advanced age, non-white ethnicity, more depressive symptoms, and low physical activity for women. Education, intervention, and supportive care for older adults with CHD should consider the role of specific types of self-care in disease management and prevention of decline as well as gender differences in use of various self-care strategies.
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Burnette et al. (2004) conducted a cross-sectional in Coronary Heart Disease (n=597). Self-care strategies and gender vs. Men vs women; persons without CHD was evaluated on Functional status (difficulty with basic, mobility, and instrumental ADLs). Among older adults with coronary heart disease, women experienced more functional impairment and engaged in more self-care than men, with equipment use associated with higher functioning in both.
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