The Health Patterns and Longevity
the Abstract
Background: Health-related behaviors such as physical activity, medical care utilization, and nutritional diet are known to impact longevity. Objective: Do specific configurations of these health-related behaviors shaped by an adult’s dominant health pattern likewise impact longevity? Method: An historical cross sectional data set of 9,157 adult was used to explore the relationship between an adult’s dominant health pattern and longevity, defined as reaching age 75 or older. The Adaptive Health Behavior Inventory (AHBI) assessed adaptive health behaviors including measures of physical activity engagement, following a nutritional diet, and seeking/avoiding medical care. Logistic regression was used to explore relationships between 1) AHBI responses and 2) the participant’s dominant health pattern to the odds of reaching age 75 or older. Multiple regression analysis was used to explore relationships of health-related behavior measures known to impact longevity and those heath patterns associated with the most significant impacts on longevity. Results: After controlling for gender/sex, eight AHBI measures had significant odds of impacting longevity. Participant’s dominant health pattern was a significant predictor of longevity, with the highest odds of reaching age 75 or older associated with the Traditionalist, odds ratio = 12.3 [99%CI: 7.85, 19.95] and Healthcare Driven, odds ratio = 7.13 [99%CI: 4.62, 11.01]. Conclusions: The greatest positive effects on longevity were not associated with health-related behaviors consistent with a health promoting lifestyle but were instead associated with patterns of multiple health behaviors characterized by a greater willingness to seek medical care without concern for costs.
Background: Health-related behaviors such as physical activity, medical care utilization, and nutritional diet are known to impact longevity. Objective: Do specific configurations of these health-related behaviors shaped by an adult’s dominant health pattern likewise impact longevity? Method: An historical cross sectional data set of 9,157 adult was used to explore the relationship between an adult’s dominant health pattern and longevity, defined as reaching age 75 or older. The Adaptive Health Behavior Inventory (AHBI) assessed adaptive health behaviors including measures of physical activity engagement, following a nutritional diet, and seeking/avoiding medical care. Logistic regression was used to explore relationships between 1) AHBI responses and 2) the participant’s dominant health pattern to the odds of reaching age 75 or older. Multiple regression analysis was used to explore relationships of health-related behavior measures known to impact longevity and those heath patterns associated with the most significant impacts on longevity. Results: After controlling for gender/sex, eight AHBI measures had significant odds of impacting longevity. Participant’s dominant health pattern was a significant predictor of longevity, with the highest odds of reaching age 75 or older associated with the Traditionalist, odds ratio = 12.3 [99%CI: 7.85, 19.95] and Healthcare Driven, odds ratio = 7.13 [99%CI: 4.62, 11.01]. Conclusions: The greatest positive effects on longevity were not associated with health-related behaviors consistent with a health promoting lifestyle but were instead associated with patterns of multiple health behaviors characterized by a greater willingness to seek medical care without concern for costs.