Disability trends in gender and race groups of early retirement ages in the USA.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse disability trends over the 1980s-1990s in gender and race groups of early retirement ages in USA.


METHODS
Disability trends for white and black males and females aged 65-69 and 70+ are analysed using the 1982-1999 NLTCS. Disability is analysed at three levels (instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), activities of daily living (ADL), and institutionalisation).


RESULTS
1) A larger increase in proportions of non-disabled blacks aged 65-69 compared with whites and males compared with females. 2) Differences in disability trends among gender and race groups. 3) A faster absolute decline in non-institutionalised disabled aged 65-69. 4) A larger absolute decline and a smaller relative decline in proportions of disabled aged 70+ compared with 65-69. 5) A significant decrease in the proportion of ADL disabled blacks and an increase of ADL disabled white females in the age group 70+.


CONCLUSIONS
Americans aged 65-69 years manifest a significant improvement in health over the 1980s-1990s but the dynamics differs in gender and race groups. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.
Arbeev
Konstantin G
KG
Max Planck Institut for Demographic Research, Rostock.
Butov
Alexander A
AA
Manton
Kenneth G
KG
Sannikov
Igor A
IA
Yashin
Anatoli I
AI
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D012179:Retirement / Q000639:trends*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001741:Black or African American