title: Cross-National Differences in Disability Among Elders: Transitions in Disability in Mexico and the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about how exposure to a combination of infectious and chronic conditions throughout the lifecourse could impact disability in old age. This paper compares 2 cohorts of adults who have aged under very different country contexts by contrasting disability transitions among elders in Mexico with elders in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data comes from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) and the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Estimated probabilities of 2-year transitions among disability states and mortality are presented for adults aged 50 and older.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of disability prevalence and 2 year transitions are consistent with a higher rate of disability for the United States compared to Mexico. In 2-year transitions, the U.S. sample was more likely to transition to a disabled state or increase the number of disabilities than the Mexican counterparts, while Mexicans are more likely to move out of disability or reduce the number of disabilities reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that the current rate of disability in old age is lower for a less developed country compared with a developed society. We discuss implications, possible explanations, and likely future scenarios.
authors: Institute of Gerontology, Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia gerstk@uga.edu.
authors: Kerstin
authors: K
authors: Gerst-Emerson
authors: Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors: Rebeca
authors: R
authors: Wong
authors: Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors: Alejandra
authors: A
authors: Michaels-Obregon
authors: Population Center for Demography and Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Palloni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Disability; Elders—Mexico; United States
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