Journal article
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Disability Transitions Among Older Adults in the United States
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, v 74(3), pp 406-411
15 Feb 2019
PMID: 29562316
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Racial and ethnic differences in disability persist and are possibly widening in recent years, but evidence is limited for racial and ethnic differences in disability progression through the entire disablement process and potential influential factors. The objective of this study is to examine racial and ethnic differences in patterns of late-life disability transitions, using a new disability spectrum that incorporates successful accommodation with assistive devices in response to capacity limitations to prolong independence.
The study cohort consisted of a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older in the United States who were enrolled in the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study and followed up annually until 2015 (n = 6,198). First-order Markov transition models were used to determine racial/ethnic differences in transitions among three stages of self-care and mobility limitations (fully able, successful accommodation, difficulty/assistance) and death.
After adjustment for age and sex, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic respondents had higher probabilities of unfavorable transitions and lower probabilities of remaining in the successful accommodation stage than non-Hispanic White respondents. The racial and ethnic differences in probabilities of maintaining successful accommodation remained statistically significant after adjustment for socioeconomic and health factors (Black: 0.56, 95% CI = 0.52-0.60; Hispanic: 0.53, 95% CI = 0.44-0.61; White: 0.63, 95% CI = 0.61-0.65).
Successful accommodation with assistive devices may provide possibilities for implementing interventions to enhance older adults' capacities and reducing racial/ethnic differences in late-life disability.
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Details
- Title
- Racial and Ethnic Differences in Disability Transitions Among Older Adults in the United States
- Creators
- Liming Dong - University of MichiganVicki A Freedman - University of MichiganBrisa N Sánchez - University of MichiganCarlos F Mendes de Leon - Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Publication Details
- The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, v 74(3), pp 406-411
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Grant note
- P60 MD002249 / NIMHD NIH HHS U01 AG032947 / NIA NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000462192600017
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85061601003
- Other Identifier
- 991020100205704721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Geriatrics & Gerontology
- Gerontology