Patterns of Home Environmental Modification Use and Functional Health: The Women’s Health Initiative

Abstract Background We examined common patterns of home environmental modification (HEM) use and associated major (including disability-, cardiovascular-, and cancer-related) health conditions and events among older women. Methods Women, aged 78.6 ± 6.3 years (n = 71,257), self-reported utilization of nine types of HEMs (hand rails, grab bars, ramps, nonslip surfaces, tacking carpets/rugs, decreasing clutter, increasing lighting, raised sink/counter heights, other). Concurrent history of major health conditions and events was collected. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated based on overall HEM use and four latent classes (low HEM use [56%], rails/grab bars [20%], lighting/decluttering [18%], high HEM use [5%]), adjusted for age, marital status, race/ethnicity, education, depression, and obesity. Results Fifty-five percent of women reported using any HEM (overall), with strongest associations among disability-related conditions. Activities of daily living limitations were strongly associated with high HEM use (OR = 8.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.62–10.05), railing/grab bar use (OR = 4.02, 95% CI = 3.26–4.95), and lighting/declutter use (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.40–2.50) versus low HEM use. Recent falls were positively associated with overall HEM use (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.72–1.87); high HEM use (OR = 2.89, 95% CI = 2.64–3.16), railings/grab bars use (OR = 2.32, 95% CI = 2.18–2.48), and lighting/declutter use (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.79–2.08) were positively associated with recent falls. Modest associations were observed between HEM use and select (ie, atrial fibrillation, heart valve disease, stroke) cardiovascular outcomes. Conclusions Among older women, disability-related conditions, including functional limitations and recent falls, were strongly associated with overall HEM use, high HEM use, and railings/grab bar use.