Trajectories of health in old age: ethnic differences Aging research has been increasingly focused on examining the intersections between aging and social factors involved in determining physical health status. Much of the research is based on cross-sectional data. Further, existing longitiduinal analyses are mostly concerned with transitions between two points in time. This application analyzes trajectories of health status, consisiting of multiple tranisitions among White, African-American and Mexican-origin older Americans. It has three specific aims. First, I will examine trajectories of health status as measured by self-rated health, disability levels, and disease burden by ethnic group. Second, I will explore the role of nativity status on the trajectories of health for Mexican-Americans as they age. The effect of foreign-born, time spent in the U.S., time since migration and age at migration will be explored. Lastly, I will consider how early life socioeconomic exposures intersect with nativity status to partly determine trajectories of health later in life for Mexican-origin Latinos. To evaluate the research questions posed, hierarchical linear models will be used. In particular, changes in health trajectories within an older person by ethnic identity will be represented by growth curves. The data used for these proposed analyses will come two sources. The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is an ongoing, nationally-representative public use panel study sampling individuals aged 51 and older. In addition, the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE) will be used to validate findings from the HRS, given its large sample of Mexican-Americans. PI: Qui?ones, Ana R. Relavance of this research to public health: Understanding the trends of disability and decline in old age is of critical importance to health policymakers. In particular, identifying the challenges posed by an aging population with worse health outcomes for some groups relative to others is a necessary social planning instrument. This research proposes to examine the health trends of older White, African-American and Mexican-Americans to determine whether such differential patterns in aging are at play.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Dissertation Award (R36)
Project #
5R36AG031570-02
Application #
7671374
Study Section
National Institute on Aging Initial Review Group (NIA)
Program Officer
Patmios, Georgeanne E
Project Start
2008-08-15
Project End
2010-07-31
Budget Start
2009-08-01
Budget End
2010-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$4,371
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Quiñones, Ana R; Liang, Jersey; Ye, Wen (2013) Differences in diabetes mellitus onset for older Black, White, and Mexican Americans. Ethn Dis 23:310-5
Quiñones, Ana R; Liang, Jersey; Ye, Wen (2012) Racial and ethnic differences in hypertension risk: new diagnoses after age 50. Ethn Dis 22:175-80
Quiñones, Ana R; Liang, Jersey; Bennett, Joan M et al. (2011) How does the trajectory of multimorbidity vary across Black, White, and Mexican Americans in middle and old age? J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 66:739-49