Prevalence of self-reported illnesses in elderly Hispanic and non-Hispanic Whites in New Mexico.
OBJECTIVE
To report on the prevalences of self-reported illnesses from the New Mexico Elder Health Survey.


METHODS
Randomized community-based cross-sectional survey of elderly (> or = 65 years of age) Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites.


METHODS
Analysis of data from the 883 participants in the New Mexico Elder Health Survey.


RESULTS
Complete data on 848 subjects were available for this analysis: Hispanic males, 212; Hispanic females, 189; non-Hispanic White males, 236; non-Hispanic White females, 211. The mean age was 74 years (age range 65-98). Hispanics had fewer years of school and lower income. Hispanics reported a significantly (P<.05) higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes; leg ulcers/pressure sores; and Parkinson's Disease. Non-Hispanic Whites reported a significantly (P<.05) higher prevalence of asthma; circulatory problems; stomach (not ulcers), intestinal or gallbladder disease; urinary tract disorders (other than kidney disease); and cancer. Prevalence odds ratios and confidence intervals were calculated. Hispanic males reported a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes (OR 1.88, CI 1.10-3.26, P = .02), and lower prevalences of asthma (OR 0.43, CI 0.18-0.93, P = .04); urinary tract disorders, other than kidney disease (OR 0.59, CI 0.38-0.91, P = .01); and cancer (OR 0.31, CI 0.13-0.68, P = .005). Hispanic females reported a higher prevalence of diabetes (OR 3.01, CI 1.48-6.50, P = .003), and a lower prevalence of glaucoma (OR 0.48, CI 0.22-1.00, P = .05). These differences remained significant after adjustment for age, education, income, and language.


CONCLUSIONS
There are significant differences in the prevalences of self-reported illnesses between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White elderly.
Romero
L J
LJ
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque 87131, USA. ljromero@salud.unm.edu
Lindeman
R D
RD
Liang
H C
HC
Koehler
K M
KM
Baumgartner
R N
RN
Garry
P J
PJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D044465:White People