Kerstin Gerst-Emerson1, Rebeca Wong2, Alejandra Michaels-Obregon2, Alberto Palloni3. 1. Institute of Gerontology, Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia gerstk@uga.edu. 2. Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas. 3. Population Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Little is known about how exposure to a combination of infectious and chronic conditions throughout the lifecourse could impact disability in old age. This paper compares 2 cohorts of adults who have aged under very different country contexts by contrasting disability transitions among elders in Mexico with elders in the United States. METHODS: Data comes from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) and the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Estimated probabilities of 2-year transitions among disability states and mortality are presented for adults aged 50 and older. RESULTS: The levels of disability prevalence and 2 year transitions are consistent with a higher rate of disability for the United States compared to Mexico. In 2-year transitions, the U.S. sample was more likely to transition to a disabled state or increase the number of disabilities than the Mexican counterparts, while Mexicans are more likely to move out of disability or reduce the number of disabilities reported. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that the current rate of disability in old age is lower for a less developed country compared with a developed society. We discuss implications, possible explanations, and likely future scenarios.
OBJECTIVES: Little is known about how exposure to a combination of infectious and chronic conditions throughout the lifecourse could impact disability in old age. This paper compares 2 cohorts of adults who have aged under very different country contexts by contrasting disability transitions among elders in Mexico with elders in the United States. METHODS: Data comes from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) and the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Estimated probabilities of 2-year transitions among disability states and mortality are presented for adults aged 50 and older. RESULTS: The levels of disability prevalence and 2 year transitions are consistent with a higher rate of disability for the United States compared to Mexico. In 2-year transitions, the U.S. sample was more likely to transition to a disabled state or increase the number of disabilities than the Mexican counterparts, while Mexicans are more likely to move out of disability or reduce the number of disabilities reported. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that the current rate of disability in old age is lower for a less developed country compared with a developed society. We discuss implications, possible explanations, and likely future scenarios.
Authors: Ickpyo Hong; Timothy A Reistetter; Carlos Díaz-Venegas; Alejandra Michaels-Obregon; Rebeca Wong Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2018-05-10 Impact factor: 4.147