Gender specific cut-off points of age for disability among rural elderly in Anhui Province, China

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal cut-off values of age for disability in order to predict the risk of disability for older adults in rural areas. METHODS: WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 was used to assess disability. The cut-off values of age for disability were obtained by ROC curve analysis. RESULTS: The cut-off points of age for cognition restriction, mobility restriction, self-care restriction, getting along with people restriction, life activities restriction, and social participation restriction for men were 70.5, 68.5, 72.5, 70.5, 71.5, and 68.5 years old, respectively. The cut-off points of age for cognition disability, mobility restriction, self-care disability, getting along with people disability, life activities disability, and social participation disability for women were 72.5, 71.5, 70.5, 70.5, 71.5, and 71.5 years old, respectively. Over the cut-off values of age was an independent risk factor for disability (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Presenting first disability symptoms were different between men and women. Preventive efforts to prevent future disability should be different for men and women.