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Lower body function and mortality in Mexican American elderly people
K S Markides1, S A Black, G V Ostir
1Center on Aging and Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-1153, USA. Kmarkide@utmb.edu
Summary
Objective lower body function tests, including walking and balance, significantly predict mortality in older Mexican Americans. Self-reported function did not independently predict death, highlighting the importance of performance-based assessments for this population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Investigating factors influencing mortality in elderly Mexican Americans.
- Examining the role of lower body function in predicting health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the predictive power of performance-based versus self-reported lower body function on 2-year mortality.
- To assess these measures in a community-dwelling Mexican American elderly population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiological Studies of the Elderly (n=3050).
- Assessed lower body function using a 3-task performance measure (walk, balance, chair stands) and a self-reported Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale.
- Analyzed 2-year mortality data for participants aged 65+ in Southwestern states.
Main Results:
- The performance-based lower body function measure significantly predicted 2-year mortality.
- A short walk test alone showed similar predictive ability to the full measure.
- Self-reported ADL function was not a significant independent predictor of mortality when controlling for objective measures and other risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Objective measures of lower body function are strong predictors of mortality in elderly Mexican Americans.
- Self-reported function may not independently predict mortality in this demographic, contrary to some previous findings.
- Further research is warranted to understand the strong link between objective functional measures and mortality risk.