The health status of the Puerto Rican elderly

Health is a central theme for all the aged since it affects their situation in all spheres of life. The objective of this study was to identify the health conditions of an islandwide sample of non-institutionalized elderly respondents. This study is part of a 31 page questionnaire concerning the social-demographic status of the Puerto Rican elderly. The questions pertaining to the specific topic of health conditions consist of ten items about background information and ten questions pertaining to health. Structured interviews were carried out from September 1983 to September 1985. The tests of significance were those of Kendall's Tau B and C and Cramer's V. The health conditions of greatest magnitude in this population (arthritis, hypertension) are similar to those found in the elderly elsewhere. The oral illness condition was more frequent in the rural population of the island. Socio-economic considerations were found to be an important influence for the magnitude of health conditions.