Multiple health disparities among minority adults with mobility limitations: san application of the ICF framework and codes.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the interface between mobility limitations and minority status and its effect on multiple health and health-related domains among adults, using the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).


METHODS
We combined 8 years of data from the 1997-2004 US National Health Interview Survey to investigate health disparities among minorities with mobility limitations as defined by the ICF. A total of 79,739 adults surveyed met these criteria.


RESULTS
Adults with both mobility limitations and minority status experienced the greatest disparities (p<0.001) in worsening health (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=8.5), depressive symptoms (AOR=17.2), diabetes (AOR=5.5), hypertension (AOR=3.4), stroke (AOR=7.2), visual impairment (AOR=4.6), difficulty with activities of daily living (AOR=42.7) and instrumental activities of daily living (AOR=27.7), use of special equipment (AOR = 28.1), obesity (AOR=3.3), physical inactivity (AOR=2.7), and low workforce participation (AOR=0.35).


CONCLUSIONS
For most outcome measures, findings supported our hypothesis that persons with both mobility limitations and minority status experience greater health disparities than do adults with minority status or mobility limitations alone.
Jones
Gwyn C
GC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. gbj4@cdc.gov
Sinclair
Lisa B
LB
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology