Predictive value of the Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI) on all-cause mortality

• Published in: Public health (London) 2024-05, Vol.230, p.6-11
• Main Authors: Ayuso-Álvarez, A., Ortiz, C., Fontán, J., Rodríguez-Blázquez, C., Damián, J., López-Cuadrado, T., Galán, I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Disability; Disabled Persons; Female; GALI; Health Status; Health Status Indicators; Health Surveys; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mortality
• ISSN: 0033-3506; 1476-5616
• DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2024.02.006

The Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI) is an instrument that measures long-term overall disability. The objective of this study was to evaluate GALI's predictive value on mortality while examining variations according to sex, age, and educational level. Longitudinal study. This longitudinal study was based on 42,991 individuals aged ≥15 years who participated in the 2011–2012 National Health Survey and the 2014 European Health Survey in Spain. These records were linked to mortality data up to December 2021. GALI assessed self-reported functional limitation in the past 6 months and classified individuals into three categories: severely limited, limited but not severely, and not limited. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were calculated using Poisson regression models, adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health status variables. Compared to individuals with no limitations, those with non-severe limitations had an IRR for mortality of 1.27 (95% CI: 1.16–1.38), and 2.04 (95% CI: 1.81–2.31) in those with severe limitations. Women with severe limitations exhibited a higher IRR (2.32; 95% CI: 1.98–2.71) compared to men (1.73; 95% CI: 1.45–2.08) (P for interaction = 0.005). Individuals