Predictors of Survival to Advanced Ages among Older Mexican American Adults

• In Event: 349 - Section on Aging and the Life Course Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 03. Diversity in Morbidity and Mortality

Abstract

Objectives. Our study identifies predictors of survival and healthy aging to age 85 for older Mexican Americans.
Methods. We use eighteen years of data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE, 1993/1994-2010/2011, n= 955) on respondents aged 70 to 82 at baseline and survival and logistic regressions to identify which socio-demographic, health, and social supportive factors predict survival and healthy aging.
Results. We find being female, foreign born, a non-smoker, overweight or obese, and being free of ADL disability and chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or cancer is protective of death prior to age 85. Among survivors being female, married, and having more educational attainment is protective of healthy aging while obesity and chronic conditions hinders disability-free and cognitive impairment-free survival.
Conclusions. Data reveal that maintenance of chronic conditions should be a major emphasis to promote survival to advanced ages and healthy aging for older Mexican Americans.

Authors

• Sunshine Marie Rote, University of Texas-Medical Branch

• Kyriakos S. Markides, University of Texas-Medical Branch

• Karl Eschbach, University of Texas-Medical Branch