Prevalence estimates and health-related correlates of cognitive impairment from a probability sample of community-residing Latino elders.
OBJECTIVE
Prevalence estimates of cognitive impairment are provided from a probability sample of Latino elders, mostly Puerto Ricans. A profile of those with cognitive impairment is provided. Predictors of cognitive impairment and the association between depressive symptomatology and cognitive impairment are examined.


METHODS
A prevalence survey was conducted among a community sample of 205 Latino elders in New York City, drawn from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare beneficiary tape files.


RESULTS
The prevalence ratio for cognitive impairment using scale-cut scores was 12%; the latent class estimate was .15 (SE = .025; 95% CI = .10 - .21). Individuals with cognitive impairment were older; had lower levels of education, income, and acculturation; and reported higher levels of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depressive symptomatology.


CONCLUSIONS
This study resulted in the identification of a cluster of socioeconomic, health, and mental health factors that may influence the functional ability of older Puerto Ricans.
Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale, Research Division, 5901 Palisade Avenue, Riverdale, New York 10463, USA. MilRamirez@aol.com
Mildred
M
Ramírez
Jeanne A
JA
Teresi
Douglas
D
Holmes
Virginia
V
Martínez
Rafael
R
Lantigua
D000069:Acculturation; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D003863:Depression; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D004522:Educational Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors