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Older adults under a mixed regime of infectious and chronic diseases

Rafael Samper-Ternent1, Alejandra Michaels-Obregon, Rebeca Wong

  • 1Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0177, USA. rasamper@utmb.edu

Salud Publica De Mexico
|September 27, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Older adults in Mexico with both chronic and infectious diseases face the highest risk of declining self-reported health (SRH). This highlights the dual burden of disease impacting the elderly population.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Mexico faces a complex epidemiological transition characterized by a mix of infectious and chronic diseases.
  • Understanding the health trajectories of older adults is crucial for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the impact of co-existing infectious and chronic conditions on the health progression of older adults in Mexico.
  • To assess the relationship between self-reported health (SRH) and various health conditions in this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 12,207 adults participating in the Mexican Health and Aging Study.
  • Employed logistic regression to examine the association between SRH and covariates, including disease types.
  • Conducted multinomial analysis to evaluate changes in SRH between 2001 and 2003.

Main Results:

  • Older age, lower socioeconomic status (SES), poor baseline SRH, and disease type significantly predict poor follow-up SRH.
  • Individuals with both chronic and infectious diseases exhibited the highest odds of poor SRH (OR 2.63).
  • Those with only chronic diseases (OR 1.86) or only infectious diseases (OR 1.55) also showed increased odds of poor SRH.

Conclusions:

  • Mexico's older adult population is significantly affected by a mixed disease regime, impacting overall health and well-being.
  • While chronic diseases are increasingly prevalent, infectious diseases remain a critical public health concern for this age group.
  • Public health strategies must address both infectious and chronic disease burdens to improve geriatric health outcomes in Mexico.

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