Aging and Functional Health Literacy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To review the evidence on the association between age and limited health literacy, overall and by health literacy test, and to investigate the mediating role of cognitive function.

Method

The Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases were searched. Eligible studies were conducted in any country or language, included participants aged ≥50 years, presented a measure of association between age and health literacy, and were published through September 2013.

Results

Seventy analyses in 60 studies were included in the systematic review; 29 of these were included in the meta-analysis. Older age was strongly associated with limited health literacy in analyses that measured health literacy as reading comprehension, reasoning, and numeracy skills (random-effects odds r

SUBMITTER: Kobayashi LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4834761 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature