To examine the association between the Health-Related Digital Engagement Index (HDEI) and incident stroke in community-dwelling older adults, and to assess potential effect modification across key demographic and clinical subgroups.
Approach:
Study Design: Utilized baseline data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) to construct the HDEI, which captures older adults' use of the internet and digital technologies for health-related activities through multiple dimensions.
Key Findings:
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, particularly affecting older adults.
Digital health technologies are reshaping healthcare delivery but older adults face challenges in adoption and continuous use.
Existing studies show a correlation between internet use and lower risks of chronic diseases, including stroke.
Interpretation:
The study aims to clarify whether health-related digital engagement is an independent protective factor for stroke or merely reflects socioeconomic advantage.
Limitations:
The study may not fully account for all socioeconomic confounding factors.
Previous studies have primarily used binary measures of internet use, which do not capture the multidimensional nature of digital engagement.
Conclusion:
The findings will help elucidate the relationship between digital health engagement and stroke risk among older adults, considering socioeconomic factors.
