Strict Danes or relaxed Swedes? Comparing health and daily activities in Sweden and Denmark during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aims: Amidst the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, Denmark and Sweden adopted contrasting strategies despite their many cultural similarities. Denmark swiftly imposed strict governmental restrictions, while Sweden favoured a more gradual, voluntary approach. This study aims to analyse the disparities between the two nations in mental health indicators (depressive symptoms, sleep problems and loneliness), daily activities (shopping, going for a walk, visiting family and meeting other people) and medical care after the Covid-19 outbreak.

Are self-reported medical conditions and medicine use from middle-aged and older adults credible? A validation study comparing Danish SHARE-data with National Health Register data.

Purpose: Self-reported information on medical conditions and medicine use is widely used in epidemiological research. We investigated the validity of self-reported medical conditions and medicine use from Danish participants in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe.

Methods: Self-reported health data were linked at individual level with the National Patient Registry and the Danish National Prescription Registry (n = 5572).

Association between pain intensity and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling adults: longitudinal findings from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

Purpose: To investigate the longitudinal associations between pain and depressive symptoms in adults.

Methods: Prospective cohort study on data from 28,515 community-dwelling adults ≥ 50 years, free from depression at baseline (Wave 5), with follow-up in Wave 6 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Significant depressive symptoms were defined by a EURO-D score ≥ 4.

Sex differences in vision and hearing impairments across age and European regions : Findings from SHARE.

Aim: Although sensory impairments are common conditions among older people, research often fails to consider the role of sex. We examined sex differences in vision impairment and hearing impairment across age and European regions.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a pooled sample of 65,656 females and 54,881 males aged 50 years and older participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) from 2004-2020.

Perceived neighbourhood environment and falls among community-dwelling adults: cross-sectional and prospective findings from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

Unlabelled: We investigated the association between perceived neighbourhood characteristics and falls in community-dwelling adults, using data from Wave 5 and 6 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). We included 25,467 participants aged 50 to 103 years (mean age 66.2 ± 9.

Association of pain and risk of falls in community-dwelling adults: a prospective study in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

Purpose: To investigate the longitudinal associations between pain and falls risks in adults.

Methods: Prospective cohort study on data from 40,636 community-dwelling adults ≥ 50 years assessed in Wave 5 and 6 in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Socio-demographic and clinical information was collected at baseline (Wave 5).

Longitudinal changes in mental health following the COVID-19 lockdown: Results from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe.

Background: To limit the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, different restriction measures were implemented aiming to ensure social distancing and isolation. However, it is well known that such measures may lead to adverse effects on mental health.

Methods: Data from 36,478 adults aged 50+ from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe was used to investigate the longitudinal changes in mental health from pre-COVID-19 to during the pandemic (summer 2020), considering national restriction levels across 26 European countries and Israel.

Sex differences in activity and health changes following COVID-19 in Europe-results from the SHARE COVID-19 survey.

While a female advantage in the overall survival from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been demonstrated, potential sex differences in health changes are not investigated. In a sample of 21 395 men and 29 139 women aged 50+ from the SHARE COVID-19 survey, we investigated sex differences in social activities, self-rated health and mental health following the COVID-19 outbreak. We found considerable sex differences in all European regions with women experiencing larger negative changes across all social activities and health measures than men lending support for the male-female health-survival paradox.

Subjective vision and hearing impairment and falls among community-dwelling adults: a prospective study in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

Purpose: To investigate the association between vision and hearing impairment and falls in community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 50 years.

Methods: This is a prospective study on 50,986 participants assessed in Waves 6 and 7 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. At baseline, we recorded socio-demographic data, clinical factors and self-reported vision and hearing impairment.

Association between body mass index and falls in community-dwelling men and women: a prospective, multinational study in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

Purpose: To investigate the longitudinal associations between body mass index (BMI) categories and falls risk in men and women.

Methods: Prospective cohort study using data from 50,041 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 50 years assessed in Wave 6 and 7 in the cross-national Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Socio-demographic and clinical factors were assessed at baseline (Wave 6).

Cross-national comparison of sex differences in ADL and IADL in Europe: findings from SHARE.

Women experience greater longevity than men, but have poorer health, although sex differences vary across health measures and geographical regions. We aim to examine sex differences in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) over age across European regions in a cross-sectional setting including 51,292 men and 62,007 women aged 50+ from a pooled sample of waves 1 (2004-2005) to 6 (2015) in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. ADL and IADL were dichotomised into no limitations and at least one limitation.

Gender differences in cognitive function and grip strength: a cross-national comparison of four European regions.

Background: Cross-national comparison studies on gender differences have mainly focussed on life expectancy, while less research has examined differences in health across countries. We aimed to investigate gender differences in cognitive function and grip strength over age and time across European regions.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study including 51 292 men and 62 007 women aged 50 + participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe between 2004-05 and 2015.