Citation
Kowitt, Sarah D.; Aiello, Allison E.; Callahan, Leigh F.; Fisher, Edwin B.; Gottfredson, Nisha C.; Jordan, Joanne M.; & Muessig, Kathryn E. (2021). How Are Neighborhood Characteristics Associated with Mental and Physical Functioning among Older Adults with Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis?. Arthritis Care & Research, 73(3), 308-317. PMCID: PMC7295685Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study examined how neighborhood characteristics were associated with health outcomes among older adults with osteoarthritis.METHODS: We examined in multilevel, cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses if four neighborhood characteristics were a) associated with depressive symptoms and reported knee impact scores and b) interacted with race / ethnicity among older adults with radiographic knee osteoarthritis (n=656 for cross-sectional analyses and n=434 for longitudinal analyses). Data came from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, a prospective cohort study in North Carolina designed to examine risk factors for osteoarthritis.
RESULTS: Although few longitudinal associations were found, cross-sectional results suggested that greater perceived neighborhood social cohesion (B= -0.04, p< 0.001) and perceived neighborhood resources for physical activity and walking (B= -0.03, p< 0.001) were associated with fewer depressive symptoms and that greater perceived neighborhood resources for physical activity and walking were associated with higher (better) knee impact scores (B=0.48, p=0.008). We also observed two significant interactions among neighborhood characteristics and race / ethnicity related to depressive symptoms (p<0.01); for Black adults, greater perceived neighborhood resources for physical activity and walking was associated with fewer depressive symptoms (B= -0.03, p<.001), but for White adults, greater perceived neighborhood safety was associated with fewer depressive symptoms (B= -0.04, p=0.003).
CONCLUSION: In a sample of older adults with radiographic knee osteoarthritis, neighborhood context matters, but in nuanced ways. Interventions aiming to improve mental and physical functioning of older adults with knee osteoarthritis can look to this study as evidence for the importance of neighborhood characteristics.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/acr.24125Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2021Journal Title
Arthritis Care & ResearchAuthor(s)
Kowitt, Sarah D.Aiello, Allison E.
Callahan, Leigh F.
Fisher, Edwin B.
Gottfredson, Nisha C.
Jordan, Joanne M.
Muessig, Kathryn E.
Article Type
RegularPMCID
PMC7295685Data Set/Study
Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project (JoCo OA)Continent/Country
United States of AmericaState
North CarolinaRace/Ethnicity
BlackWhite