PURPOSE: The Hispanic population in the United States is the fastest growing minority group, yet there is little understanding of the disability patterns that occur as this population ages. We conducted a cross-sectional study to define the prevalence of limitations of activities of daily living (ADL) and measures of observed function. METHODS: We censussed two rural counties in southern Colorado and selected a stratified sample of both Hispanic and non-Hispanic white (NHW) residents; 81.6% completed the protocol. RESULTS: Among the 1250 subjects aged 65 years and older, Hispanic elderly living in the community had greater ADL disability than NHW subjects, both for any difficulty (p = 0.006), and for needing assistance (p = 0.002). Hispanic persons were less likely to reside in nursing homes (3.4%) compared with NHW persons (9.3%). Hispanic elderly had excess prevalence of dependent ADL tasks (needs assistance or unable to do), (age, gender-adjusted odds ratio = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.01-1.92) in community dwelling and nursing home residents combined. There was no Hispanic excess of less severe difficulty compared with NHW persons, and there was a similar prevalence of limitation on observed functional tasks (timed walk, stooping, rising from a chair) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was a modest Hispanic excess of reported dependent ADL limitation, and no excess of observed functional difficulties. Hispanics enter older age with much less income and education, yet they do not have a marked excess prevalence of limitations in activities of daily living when compared with NHW persons living in the same area.
PURPOSE: The Hispanic population in the United States is the fastest growing minority group, yet there is little understanding of the disability patterns that occur as this population ages. We conducted a cross-sectional study to define the prevalence of limitations of activities of daily living (ADL) and measures of observed function. METHODS: We censussed two rural counties in southern Colorado and selected a stratified sample of both Hispanic and non-Hispanic white (NHW) residents; 81.6% completed the protocol. RESULTS: Among the 1250 subjects aged 65 years and older, Hispanic elderly living in the community had greater ADL disability than NHW subjects, both for any difficulty (p = 0.006), and for needing assistance (p = 0.002). Hispanic persons were less likely to reside in nursing homes (3.4%) compared with NHW persons (9.3%). Hispanic elderly had excess prevalence of dependent ADL tasks (needs assistance or unable to do), (age, gender-adjusted odds ratio = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.01-1.92) in community dwelling and nursing home residents combined. There was no Hispanic excess of less severe difficulty compared with NHW persons, and there was a similar prevalence of limitation on observed functional tasks (timed walk, stooping, rising from a chair) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was a modest Hispanic excess of reported dependent ADL limitation, and no excess of observed functional difficulties. Hispanics enter older age with much less income and education, yet they do not have a marked excess prevalence of limitations in activities of daily living when compared with NHW persons living in the same area.
Authors: Marcia A Ciol; Anne Shumway-Cook; Jeanne M Hoffman; Kathryn M Yorkston; Brian J Dudgeon; Leighton Chan Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2008-01-02 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: E Amirian; Judith Baxter; Jim Grigsby; Douglas Curran-Everett; John E Hokanson; Lucinda L Bryant Journal: J Clin Epidemiol Date: 2009-08-27 Impact factor: 6.437
Authors: Angela G Brega; Ann Reynolds; Rachael E Bennett; Maureen A Leehey; Lanee S Bounds; Jennifer B Cogswell; Randi J Hagerman; Paul J Hagerman; Jim Grigsby Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2009-10 Impact factor: 3.485