A Follow-up Comparison of Study Participantsand Refusers Within a Rural Elderly Population

Abstract

Background. Survey rates are known to decline with age. Survey results can be affected by response bias if nonrespondersare more, or less, likely than participants to suffer from the condition being studied. For instance, it is possiblethat older adults with dementia would be less likely to participate in a study of dementing disorders. Methods. A random sample of a rural U.S. population aged 65+ years yielded 1,422 participants and 912 refusers inaddition to others who were ineligible, inaccessible, or untestable. Participants and refusers were compared on age,sex, 5-year mortality, and causes of death suggestive of dementia as listed on death certificates. Results. Compared to participants, refusers were significantly older and more likely to be women, with mortalitysimilar to that of participants at approximately 5-year follow-up. Death certificate data revealed no significant differencesin reported causes of death indicating or suggesting dementia. Conclusions. In this population, those who refused to participate in a dementia survey were not more likely to be illor demented than those who did participate.