Frequency of data collection and estimation of trajectories of physical functioning and their associations with survival in older men: analyses of longitudinal data from the Manitoba Follow-Up Study

ObjectiveIn studies of trajectories of physical functioning among older people, the data cannot be measured continuously, but only at certain time points in prespecified cycles. We examine how data collection cycles can affect the estimation of trajectories and their associations with survival.Study design and settingLongitudinal data from the Manitoba Follow-Up Study (MFUS), with 12 measurements collected annually from 2004 to 2015, are analysed using a summary measures of physical functioning from the Short Form-36 questionnaire. Based on the joint models of the functioning trajectories and risk of death, we compare the estimations among models using different frequency of data collection (annually, biennially and triennially).ResultsOur 2004 baseline includes 964 men who were survivors from the original MFUS cohort with mean age of 84 years and range between 75 and 94 years. Results from analysis of annual data indicate that the mean physical functioning is significantly decreasing over time. Further, the rate of decline is increasing over time. The current value of physical functioning is significantly associated with the hazard of death (pConclusionThe impact of frequency of data collection depends on the shape of functional trajectories and its linking structure to survival outcome.