Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbab190
Title: Early-Life War Exposure and Later-Life Frailty Among Older Adults in Vietnam: Does War Hasten Aging?
Authors: Zimmer, Zachary
Korinek, Kim
Young, Yvette
Teerawichitchainan, Bussarawan 
Toan, Tran Khanh
Keywords: Science & Technology
Social Sciences
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Gerontology
Psychology
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Armed conflict
Biological aging
Developing countries
Latent class analysis
Trauma
MILITARY SERVICE
DEFICIT ACCUMULATION
PHYSICAL HEALTH
SEX-DIFFERENCES
KOREAN-WAR
STRESS
MORTALITY
DISEASE
IMPACT
TRAUMA
Issue Date: 7-Dec-2021
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
Citation: Zimmer, Zachary, Korinek, Kim, Young, Yvette, Teerawichitchainan, Bussarawan, Toan, Tran Khanh (2021-12-07). Early-Life War Exposure and Later-Life Frailty Among Older Adults in Vietnam: Does War Hasten Aging?. JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 77 (9) : 1674-1685. ScholarBank@NUS Repository. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbab190
Abstract: Objectives: This study aimed to assess the nature and degree of association between exposure to potentially traumatic wartime experiences in early life, such as living in a heavily bombed region or witnessing death firsthand, and later-life frailty. Method: The Vietnam Health and Aging Study included war survivors in Vietnam, 60+, who completed a survey and health exam between May and August 2018. Latent class analysis (LCA) is used to construct classes exposed to similar numbers and types of wartime experiences. Frailty is measured using a deficit accumulation approach that proxies biological aging. Fractional logit regression associates latent classes with frailty scores. Coefficients are used to calculate predicted frailty scores and expected age at which specific levels of frailty are reached across wartime exposure classes. Results: LCA yields 9 unique wartime exposure classes, ranging from extreme exposure to nonexposed. Higher frailty is found among those with more heavy/severe exposures with a combination of certain types of experiences, including intense bombing, witnessing death firsthand, having experienced sleep disruptions during wartime, and having feared for one’s life during war. The difference in frailty-associated aging between the most and least affected individuals is more than 18 years. Discussion: War trauma hastens aging and warrants greater attention toward long-term implications of war on health among vast postconflict populations across the globe.
Source Title: JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
URI: https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/242971
ISSN: 1079-5014
1758-5368
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbab190
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