Aging in Puerto Rico: A comparison of health status among island Puerto Rican and mainland U.S. older adults.

TitleAging in Puerto Rico: A comparison of health status among island Puerto Rican and mainland U.S. older adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsPerez, C, Ailshire, JA
JournalJournal of Aging and Health
Volume29
Issue6
Pagination1056-1078
Date Published09/2017
ISSN Number1552-6887
KeywordsCross-National, Puerto Rico, Racial/ethnic differences
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the health status of older island Puerto Ricans, a segment of the U.S. population that has been largely overlooked in aging research.

METHOD: Data from the 2002 Puerto Rican Elderly Health Conditions Project and the 2002 Health and Retirement Study are used to examine differences in disease, disability, and self-rated health among island Puerto Ricans and the mainland U.S.-born older adult population. Differences are further examined by gender.

RESULTS: Island Puerto Ricans were less likely to have heart disease, stroke, lung disease, cancer, activities of daily living (ADL) limitations, and poor self-rated health, but more likely to have hypertension and diabetes. Island Puerto Rican women had worse health relative to island Puerto Rican men.

DISCUSSION: Recent challenges in the funding and provision of health care in Puerto Rico are worrisome given the large number of aging island adults, many of whom have hypertension and diabetes, two conditions that require long-term medical care.

DOI10.1177/0898264317714144
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28599584?dopt=Abstract

Alternate JournalJ Aging Health
Citation Key9160
PubMed ID28599584
PubMed Central IDPMC5746478
Grant ListK99 AG039528 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R00 AG039528 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
T32 AG000037 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States