TY - JOUR
T1 - Comorbidity and disability in elderly Mexican and Mexican American adults
T2 - Findings from Mexico and the Southwestern United States
AU - Patel, Kushang V.
AU - Peek, M. Kristen
AU - Wong, Rebeca
AU - Markides, Kyriakos S.
PY - 2006/4
Y1 - 2006/4
N2 - This article aims to compare the effects of morbid and comorbid medical conditions on disability in elderly Mexican and Mexican American adults. Data from the 2001 Mexican Health and Aging Study (N = 4,872) and 1993 to 1994 Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (N = 3,050) were analyzed. Prevalence of medical conditions and disability in activities of daily living were calculated and logistic models were used to test associations. Prevalence of disability in older Mexicans was 16.3% while it was slightly lower in Mexican Americans (13.1%). Prevalence of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart attack, and stroke were substantially higher in Mexican Americans than in older adults living in Mexico. Diabetes, stroke, and heart attack were comorbid conditions that raised the likelihood of disability in both populations among subjects with other medical conditions. Despite differences in prevalence, the associations of morbidity and comorbidity with disability had similar magnitudes in both populations.
AB - This article aims to compare the effects of morbid and comorbid medical conditions on disability in elderly Mexican and Mexican American adults. Data from the 2001 Mexican Health and Aging Study (N = 4,872) and 1993 to 1994 Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (N = 3,050) were analyzed. Prevalence of medical conditions and disability in activities of daily living were calculated and logistic models were used to test associations. Prevalence of disability in older Mexicans was 16.3% while it was slightly lower in Mexican Americans (13.1%). Prevalence of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart attack, and stroke were substantially higher in Mexican Americans than in older adults living in Mexico. Diabetes, stroke, and heart attack were comorbid conditions that raised the likelihood of disability in both populations among subjects with other medical conditions. Despite differences in prevalence, the associations of morbidity and comorbidity with disability had similar magnitudes in both populations.
KW - Aging
KW - Chronic disease
KW - Comorbidity
KW - Disability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33646594142&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33646594142&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0898264305285653
DO - 10.1177/0898264305285653
M3 - Article
C2 - 16614346
AN - SCOPUS:33646594142
SN - 0898-2643
VL - 18
SP - 315
EP - 329
JO - Journal of aging and health
JF - Journal of aging and health
IS - 2
ER -