title: Mortality and its association with chronic and infectious diseases in Mexico: A panel data analysis of the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the relationship between chronic and infectious diseases on mortality risks under conditions of accelerated aging.The main hypothesis is that individuals who report both types of diseases experience higher mortality risks than those reporting only chronic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a nationally representative sample of 12 128 individuals aged 50 years and over included in the three waves of the Mexican Health and Aging Study. We estimated Cox regression models to assess the combined effect of self-reported chronic and infectious diseases on subsequent mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the period under study there were 2 723 deaths, 22.5% of the baseline sample. Having reported chronic and infectious diseases significantly increases mortality risks compared to having reported only chronic diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a context of socioeconomic inequality and a mixed epidemiological regime it is crucial to understand how diseases combine to generate excess mortality risks among the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Geriatría, México, Distrito Federal, México.
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-González
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, Estados Unidos de América.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palloni
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, Estados Unidos de América.
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors