Open AccessArthritis prevalence and activity limitations in older adults
Author(s) -
Dunlop Dorothy D.,
Manheim Larry M.,
Song Jing,
Chang Rowland W.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/1529-0131(200101)44:1<212::aid-anr28>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - medicine , arthritis , gerontology , health and retirement study , demography , ethnic group , non hispanic whites , activities of daily living , epidemiology , national health interview survey , physical therapy , mexican americans , population , environmental health , sociology , anthropology
Objective To evaluate the prevalence of arthritis and activity limitations among older Americans by assessing their demographic, ethnic, and economic characteristics. Methods Data from the Asset and Health Dynamic Survey Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD), a national probability sample of community‐dwelling adults born before 1924, were analyzed cross‐sectionally. Arthritis that resulted in a physician's visit or a joint replacement not associated with a hip fracture was ascertained by self‐report. Results The prevalence of arthritis in older adults ranged from 25% in non‐Hispanic whites to 40% in non‐Hispanic blacks to 44% in Hispanics. A higher prevalence of arthritis was associated with less education as well as lower income and less wealth. The prevalence of limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) among non‐Hispanic white, non‐Hispanic black, and Hispanic adults who reported arthritis only was 29%, 30%, and 37%, respectively, and increased to 48%, 57%, and 56%, respectively, among those reporting arthritis plus other chronic conditions, after adjustment for age and sex. Conclusion Non‐Hispanic black and Hispanic older adults reported having arthritis at a substantially higher frequency than did non‐Hispanic whites. In addition, Hispanics reported higher rates of ADL limitations than did non‐Hispanic whites with comparable disease burden. Further study is needed to confirm and elucidate the reasons for these racial and economic disparities in older populations.