Abnormal Blood Biomarkers and Cumulative Disability Burden in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Evidence from Two Nationally Representative Surveys in the United States and China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Few studies have simultaneously examined how blood biomarkers for inflammation, metabolic, and cardiovascular function are associated with disability incidence. This study aimed to comprehensively examine these associations.

Methods

We used data from adults aged 50 and older in the Health and Retirement Study (n = 9250) and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (n = 6844), with biennial follow-up over a 4-year period. We defined abnormal biomarker values using standard clinical cut-off points for three biological systems. Disability burden was quantified as the cumulative number of impairments in basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Multivariate linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze the associations.

Results</

SUBMITTER: Tu R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12653407 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature