The objectives of this study are to more fully understand differentials in physical frailty (disability), nutritional status, related health status and health behaviors among a representative sample of Hispanic elders and non- Hispanic white neighborhood controls; to describe differences by Hispanic sub-group (Puerto Rican, Dominican, and other) and by gender; and to evaluate relationships between diet, nutrition, and frailty among these groups and sub-groups. Data on the health and nutrition of Puerto Rican elders remain scant (Hispanic HANES examined only 144 Puerto Ricans age 60-74 years) and is non-existent for Dominican elders. NHANES III is over-sampling Mexican Americans and elders but not these particular Hispanic groups. Data from Hispanic HANES and their preliminary data suggest the data from Mexican Americans can not be exactly related to Puerto Ricans and other Hispanic groups. Preliminary results from ongoing studies suggest that important differences in prevalence and patterns of disability, obesity, depression, and self-reported health status, dietary patterns, and use of services among Hispanic groups is extremely variable. It is hypothesized that Hispanics have a higher prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and poor reported health status and that they report lower use of services. It is also hypothesized that they are suffering from high rates of depression. Preliminary comparisons across Hispanic sub-groups reveal potentially important differences between Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and other Hispanics; and between men and women. Puerto Rican and Dominican women appear to be at greatest risks for a variety of conditions, including frailty, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and depression. Enhancement of the sample size is needed in order to reliably describe the prevalence of key conditions and to define significant differences across Hispanic and gender sub-groups. Because of special considerations related to working with a relatively rare, highly mobile, and partially undocumented minority population, methodologic developments had demanded special attention. Approaches for locating and recruiting this sample have been refined and instruments adapted for quality data collection across groups, including the development of a specialized food frequency instrument. Given existing sub-group distributions, they propose to continue data collection for an additional 12 months on their current cohort to achieve a sample size of 750 Hispanics and 250 Non-Hispanic whites, and request an additional 12 months to process and analyze data, and to prepare manuscripts. This is an additional 400 over the 600 interviews expected to be completed by the end of the currently funded project. With an expanded sample size, the investigators state that they will be able to provide reliable estimates of the prevalence of several important health and nutrition problems among these understudied groups, and to examine associations between social situation, health behavior, nutritional status and health within the context of their lifestyles. They further state that analysis of interrelationships among variables will provide critically important baseline information on risk of nutrition and health problems which is needed for targeting and planning programs to reduce these problems in this rapidly increasing sub- population in the Northeastern U.S.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG010425-05
Application #
2001416
Study Section
Epidemiology and Disease Control Subcommittee 2 (EDC)
Project Start
1992-09-01
Project End
1997-11-30
Budget Start
1996-12-01
Budget End
1997-11-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Tufts University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
604483045
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02111
Rodriguez-Galan, Marta B; Falcon, Luis M (2009) Perceived problems with access to medical care and depression among older Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, other Hispanics, and a comparison group of non-Hispanic Whites. J Aging Health 21:501-18
Merete, Cristina; Falcon, Luis M; Tucker, Katherine L (2008) Vitamin B6 is associated with depressive symptomatology in Massachusetts elders. J Am Coll Nutr 27:421-7
Seaverson, Erin L; Buell, Jennifer S; Fleming, Diana J et al. (2007) Poor iron status is more prevalent in Hispanic than in non-Hispanic white older adults in Massachusetts. J Nutr 137:414-20
Gao, Xiang; Nelson, Miriam E; Tucker, Katherine L (2007) Television viewing is associated with prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Hispanic elders. Diabetes Care 30:694-700
Gao, Xiang; Martin, Antonio; Lin, Hai et al. (2006) alpha-Tocopherol intake and plasma concentration of Hispanic and non-Hispanic white elders is associated with dietary intake pattern. J Nutr 136:2574-9
Bermudez, Odilia I; Ribaya-Mercado, Judy D; Talegawkar, Sameera A et al. (2005) Hispanic and non-Hispanic white elders from Massachusetts have different patterns of carotenoid intake and plasma concentrations. J Nutr 135:1496-502
Gao, Xiang; Bermudez, Odilia I; Tucker, Katherine L (2004) Plasma C-reactive protein and homocysteine concentrations are related to frequent fruit and vegetable intake in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white elders. J Nutr 134:913-8
Gao, Xiang; Wilde, Parke E; Maras, Janice E et al. (2004) The maximal amount of alpha-tocopherol intake from foods alone in U.S. adults (1994-1996 CSFII): an analysis by linear programming. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1031:385-6
Lin, Hai; Bermudez, Odilia I; Tucker, Katherine L (2003) Dietary patterns of Hispanic elders are associated with acculturation and obesity. J Nutr 133:3651-7
Kwan, Laurinda L; Bermudez, Odilia I; Tucker, Katherine L (2002) Low vitamin B-12 intake and status are more prevalent in Hispanic older adults of Caribbean origin than in neighborhood-matched non-Hispanic whites. J Nutr 132:2059-64

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