Eric G James1, Phillip Conatser2, Murat Karabulut2, Suzanne G Leveille3, Jeffrey M Hausdorff4,5,6, Sarah Cote1, Katherine L Tucker7, Bruce Barton8, Jonathan F Bean9, Soham Al Snih10, Kyriakos S Markides11. 1. a Department of Physical Therapy , University of Massachusetts Lowell , Lowell , MA , USA. 2. b Department of Health and Human Performance , University of Texas Rio Grande Valley , Edinburg , TX , USA. 3. c College of Nursing and Health Sciences , University of Massachusetts Boston , Boston , MA , USA. 4. d Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition and Mobility , Neurological Institute , New York , NY , USA. 5. e Sourasky Medical Center , Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel. 6. f Department of Physical Therapy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine , Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv , Israel. 7. g Department of Clinical Laboratory & Nutritional Sciences , University of Massachusetts , Lowell , MA , USA. 8. h Department of Quantitative Health Sciences , University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester , MA , USA. 9. i Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA. 10. j Division of Rehabilitation Sciences , University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston , TX , USA. 11. k Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health , University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston , TX , USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether older Mexican-Americans who cannot speak and/or understand spoken English have higher rates of mobility limitations or fear of falling than their English-speaking counterparts. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1169 community-dwelling Mexican-Americans aged 72-96 years from the 2000-2001 wave of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly. Mobility limitations were defined as having a Short Physical Performance Battery score ≤9, and fear of falling by participant report of being somewhat, fairly, or very afraid of falling. We determined the rates and odds ratios, for having mobility limitations and fear of falling as a function of English ability in those who were 72-96, <80, and ≥80 years of age. RESULTS: Among participants who were unable to speak and/or understand spoken English 85.7% had mobility limitations and 61.6% were afraid of falling, compared to 77.6% and 57.5%, respectively, of English speakers. Before adjusting for covariates, participants who did not speak and/or understand spoken English were more likely to have mobility limitations (odds ratio: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3-2.4) but not fear of falling, compared to English speakers. Among those aged ≥80 years, but not those <80 years, who did not speak or understand English were more likely to have mobility limitations (odds ratio: 4.8; 95% CI:2.0-11.5) and fear of falling (odds ratio: 2.0; 95% CI:1.3-3.1). CONCLUSION: Older Mexican-Americans who do not speak or understand spoken English have a higher rate of mobility limitations and fear of falling than their English-speaking counterparts.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether older Mexican-Americans who cannot speak and/or understand spoken English have higher rates of mobility limitations or fear of falling than their English-speaking counterparts. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1169 community-dwelling Mexican-Americans aged 72-96 years from the 2000-2001 wave of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly. Mobility limitations were defined as having a Short Physical Performance Battery score ≤9, and fear of falling by participant report of being somewhat, fairly, or very afraid of falling. We determined the rates and odds ratios, for having mobility limitations and fear of falling as a function of English ability in those who were 72-96, <80, and ≥80 years of age. RESULTS: Among participants who were unable to speak and/or understand spoken English 85.7% had mobility limitations and 61.6% were afraid of falling, compared to 77.6% and 57.5%, respectively, of English speakers. Before adjusting for covariates, participants who did not speak and/or understand spoken English were more likely to have mobility limitations (odds ratio: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3-2.4) but not fear of falling, compared to English speakers. Among those aged ≥80 years, but not those <80 years, who did not speak or understand English were more likely to have mobility limitations (odds ratio: 4.8; 95% CI:2.0-11.5) and fear of falling (odds ratio: 2.0; 95% CI:1.3-3.1). CONCLUSION: Older Mexican-Americans who do not speak or understand spoken English have a higher rate of mobility limitations and fear of falling than their English-speaking counterparts.
Entities:
Keywords:
Aging; English; Mexican-American; fear of falling; mobility
Authors: B W Penninx; L Ferrucci; S G Leveille; T Rantanen; M Pahor; J M Guralnik Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2000-11 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: L C Perkowski; C A Stroup-Benham; K S Markides; M J Lichtenstein; R J Angel; J M Guralnik; J S Goodwin Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 1998-04 Impact factor: 5.562