Characteristics of study participants by health literacy decline, the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, 2004–2011 (n=4368)
| Health literacy decline | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes (n=814; 19%) | No (n=3554; 81%) | p Value | |
| Age | <0.0001 | ||
| Mean (SD) | 66.97 (8.99) | 64.03 (8.09) | |
| Sex | 0.37 | ||
| Male | 369 (19%) | 1549 (81%) | |
| Female | 445 (18%) | 2005 (82%) | |
| Ethnicity | 0.02 | ||
| White | 797 (18%) | 3513 (82%) | |
| Non-white | 17 (30%) | 39 (70%) | |
| Educational attainment | <0.0001 | ||
| Degree or equivalent | 149 (14%) | 925 (86%) | |
| Up to degree level | 330 (17%) | 1656 (83%) | |
| No qualification | 334 (26%) | 973 (74%) | |
| Non non-pension wealth quintile | <0.0001 | ||
| 1 (poorest) | 155 (24%) | 501 (76%) | |
| 2 | 154 (19%) | 653 (81%) | |
| 3 | 180 (20%) | 703 (80%) | |
| 4 | 155 (16%) | 808 (84%) | |
| 5 (richest) | 170 (16%) | 889 (84%) | |
| Limiting long-standing illness | 0.17 | ||
| No | 366 (18%) | 1692 (82%) | |
| Yes | 448 (19%) | 1862 (81%) | |
| IADL limitation over study follow-up | <0.0001 | ||
| No | 542 (17%) | 2649 (83%) | |
| Yes | 272 (23%) | 905 (77%) | |
| Baseline health literacy | <0.0001 | ||
| Adequate | 656 (21%) | 2531 (79%) | |
| Limited | 158 (13%) | 1023 (87%) | |
| Baseline memory (range: 4–27) | <0.0001 | ||
| Mean (SD) | 15.45 (3.83) | 16.93 (3.62) | |
| Baseline executive function (range: 5–23) | <0.0001 | ||
| Mean (SD) | 12.80 (3.12) | 13.92 (3.04) | |
| Memory decline | <0.0001 | ||
| No | 488 (17%) | 2429 (83%) | |
| Yes | 379 (22%) | 1313 (78%) | |
| Executive function decline | <0.0001 | ||
| No | 521 (17%) | 2616 (83%) | |
| Yes | 346 (24%) | 1126 (76%) | |
IADL, instrumental activity of daily living.