ELSA English Longitudinal Study of Ageing The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing: Update for HSE User Group Carli Lessof National.

ELSAEnglish LongitudinalStudy of Ageing

The English Longitudinal The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing:Study of Ageing:

Update for HSE User GroupUpdate for HSE User Group

http://www.ifs.org.uk/elsa

Carli Lessof

National Centre for Social Research


Key Facts about ELSAKey Facts about ELSA

A study of people aged 50 and over and their younger partners

Multi-disciplinary - to understand the relationship between people’s health and their economic and social circumstances

Longitudinal - interviews conducted every two years to understand change over time

Comparative - international comparison with HRS (US), SHARE (Europe) and others

Applied research which is policy relevant; aims are long-term


Research team

International Centre for Health and Society, UCL Institute for Fiscal Studies National Centre for Social Research Dept of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge

Funders National Institute on Aging Consortium of UK Government departments

Research Team and FundersResearch Team and Funders


The ELSA TeamThe ELSA Team

Lisa Calderwood

Maria Casanova

Laura Conway

Edlira Gjonça

Martin Hyde

Mary Janevic

Saffron Karlsen

Meena Kumari

Michelle Lee

Anne McMunn

Zoë Oldfield

Keeley Ribas

Rebecca Taylor

Orazio Attanasio

David Blane

Richard Disney

Paul Higgs

Felicia Huppert

Costas Meghir

David Melzer

Susan Purdon

Nick Steel

James Banks

Richard Blundell

Bob Erens

Roger Jowell

Carli Lessof

Michael Marmot (PI)

James Nazroo

RESEARCH GROUP

OTHER INVESTIGATORS

MANAGEMENT GROUP


Sample DesignSample Design

Sample is representative of population aged 50 and

over, living in private households in England

Drawn from Health Survey for England (HSE)

Three years of HSE used - 1998, 1999 & 2001

Annual cross-section of approximately 16,000 adults

Core content, supplemented by varying modules

Health measures provide ‘pre-baseline’ information

Household response - HSE (74% to 76%)

Individual adult response - HSE (67% to 70%)


HSE Content for ELSA BaselineHSE Content for ELSA Baseline

General health Use of health services MRC respiratory questionnaire, chest pain, CVD Physical activity Eating habits, smoking, drinking Height and weight (collected in interview) Waist and hip, demi-span (by nurse) Parental history GHQ12 Blood pressure; blood sample Prescribed drugs; vitamins; nicotine replacements


Eligibility for the StudyEligibility for the Study

Core sample members born on or before 29th Feb 1952

In household sector in England at baseline (ELSA W1)

Younger partners cohabiting with core sample at HSE

New partners who joined household since HSE

Some data about other household and family members

No interviews in institutions or outside England at baseline

Report focuses on core sample members


ELSA development - the first five yearsELSA development - the first five years

1998, 99, 01 HSE fieldwork, interview and nurse visit

Wave 1

2001 Development

2002 Fieldwork March 2002-March 2003

2003 Analysis and reporting

2004 Data deposit

Wave 2

2003 Development

2004 Fieldwork (including nurse visit)

2005 Analysis, reporting and data deposit


Interview Content and StructureInterview Content and Structure Household demographics

Individual demographics Health Social participation Work and pensions

Income and assets Housing

Cognitive function Psychosocial health Expectations Final questions (including consents)

Timed walk Self-completion


Interview Content and StructureInterview Content and Structure Household demographics Answered once per household

Individual demographics] Health ] Answered by all Social participation ] Can be conducted concurrently Work and pensions ]

Income and assets Answered once per financial unit Housing Answered once per household

Cognitive function ] Psychosocial health ] Answered by all Expectations ] Should be answered in private Final questions ]

Timed walk Answered by 60+, floating block Self-completion Can be left behind or switched


ResponseResponse Issued sample of ~11,600 households; ~18,800 individuals

Achieved sample of ~7,900 households; ~12,100 individuals

~11,400 interviews with core sample members

~640 interviews with partners under 50 and ~70 with new partners

Response among core sample members

Household response 70%

96% responding within households

Overall individual response rate of 67%

Individual response rate for new partners 68% Individual response rate for younger partners 63%


Achieved Sample Size - All Sample TypesAchieved Sample Size - All Sample Types Numbers %

Age Men Women Total Men Women Total

Under 50 104 472 576 2 7 5

50-54 920 1156 2076 17 17 17

55-59 1030 1171 2201 19 17 18

60-64 813 883 1696 15 13 14

65-69 806 912 1718 15 13 14

70-74 680 797 1477 13 12 12

75-79 498 596 1094 9 9 9

80+ 485 777 1262 9 11 10

Total 5336 6764 12100 100 100 100


Response and WeightingResponse and Weighting

High response to elements within survey Housing 99.7% Income and assets 99.0% Self-completion 92.0% Consents c.80%

Imputation for missing values in economic variables

Weighting to take account of household non-response Post-stratified to the relevant population using Census 2001 Applied at individual level


Health, wealth and lifestyles of the Health, wealth and lifestyles of the older population in England:older population in England:

the 2002 English Longitudinal Surveythe 2002 English Longitudinal Survey

http//www.ifs.org.uk/elsa/report.htmhttp//www.ifs.org.uk/elsa/report.htm


0

20

40

60

50-54 55-59 60-64 all 50-64

Defined Benefit Defined Contribution Other

Retired (%), by age and private pension type:

men with private pensions


Prevalence of measured mobility limitationPrevalence of measured mobility limitation- % unable or <0.4 metres / second on gait speed test- % unable or <0.4 metres / second on gait speed test

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85-89 90+

age group

%

Male

Female


Men - poor walking performance Men - poor walking performance by occupational social classby occupational social class

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85+

Managerial

Routine


Prevalence of mobility impairment Prevalence of mobility impairment by years of education in womenby years of education in womenGait speed test - % unable or <0.4m/sGait speed test - % unable or <0.4m/s

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85-89 90+

age group

%

Females <10

Females 10+


Numerical ability by age and education Numerical ability by age and education - women- women

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

50-59 60-74 75+

age group

me

an

nu

me

rac

y s

co

re

degree/higher intermediate no quals


ConclusionsConclusions

Old age is not a problem Variability in the picture Striking socioeconomic gradients in every aspect of

ageing The challenge for longitudinal analyses is to

determine the predictors of being on a successful trajectory

The payoff to individuals and society of moving the population to healthier, more productive ageing is enormous


Panel MaintenancePanel Maintenance Build panel identity

Web site, thank you letters, magnets, cards and findings

Optimise future contact Identifying deaths using administrative records Maintaining addresses Tracing and mover strategies Stable addresses and self-nominated proxies

Maximise response Pilot panel to provide early feedback Interviewer continuity Incentive payments Survey burden and salience


Survey Content at Wave 2Survey Content at Wave 2

Core modules will remain

Repeat cross-sectional questions Dependent interviewing where prior data is available (Temporary) removal of some questions

Some additions to main questionnaire Loneliness, life satisfaction Quality of care Date of onset of new conditions Job change and retirement House moves Extra consumption questions


Major Changes at Wave 2Major Changes at Wave 2

Nurse visit sample members only blood pressure; blood samples; saliva sample height & weight; waist & hip; lung function physical performance measures

Moves into institution

Exit interview

Change to following rules outside of England partners to be followed for at least one wave after splits


Plans for ELSA DataPlans for ELSA Data

Initial deposit of flat file record per person some derived variables some imputations weights basic documentation

Link to HSE data HSE serial HSE 98, 99, 01 Common data set

Preparation for longitudinal data Additional documentation


ELSA development - the next six years?ELSA development - the next six years?

2006 W3 fieldwork- refreshment, retrospective

2007 Off-year mail out

2008 W4 fieldwork (including nurse visit)


2010 W5 fieldwork - refreshment



ELSA development - the next six years?ELSA development - the next six years?

• Analysis

• Reporting

• Data


The English Longitudinal The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing:Study of Ageing:

Update for HSE User GroupUpdate for HSE User Group

http://www.ifs.org.uk/elsa

Carli Lessof

National Centre for Social Research

ELSA English Longitudinal Study of Ageing The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing: Update for HSE User Group Carli Lessof National.

Documents

study core sample members

study of people

social research slide

longterm slide

switched slide

new partners response

health survey

sample size