Lower Body Limitations, Measurement, and Healthy Life Expectancy in U.S. Populations Ages 65+

Phillip A. Cantu, University of Texas

Abstract: Using data from the National Health Aging Trends Survey (NHATS) and the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (HEPESE), we examine how multiple measurements of disability effect health life expectancy differences across gender race and nativity status. Using objective measurements of functioning (POMA’s), we compare how different racial groups self-report their abilities to carry out activities of daily living (ADL’s). Results show that while rates of concordance are similar across groups, the consequences of concordance vary by overall prevalence rates per race i.e. while the same percentage of blacks and whites experience disability discordance this results in a much larger population for blacks because of their higher rates of POMA disability. Results from a multistate life table approach to burden of disability over time show that Mexicans experience longer periods of disability and possibly experience different disability trajectories compared to other groups.