RESUMO
BACKGROUND: There is limited information related to the effects of education and literacy on cancer screening practices among older adults in Latin American and Caribbean countries. METHODS: To determine the association between education and cancer screening use, we developed a cross-sectional study using data from the Health, Well-Being and Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean Study. The sample included 4,183 men and 6,708 women aged 60 years and older from seven cities. The outcomes are mammogram and Pap smear use in women and prostate examination use in men within the last 2 years. RESULTS: In general, illiterate or lower-educated older men and women have the lowest rates of cancer screening use compared with higher-educated counterparts. Multivariate logistic models, by city and in a combined sample of six cities showed that high education is associated with higher odds of having a mammogram or a Pap smear in women and a prostate examination in men. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with low educational or literacy levels should be targeted for screening programs in these populations.
Assuntos
Escolaridade , Programas de Rastreamento/estatística & dados numéricos , Neoplasias/prevenção & controle , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/etnologia , Idoso , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , América Latina , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Mamografia/estatística & dados numéricos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise Multivariada , Teste de Papanicolaou , Neoplasias da Próstata/prevenção & controle , Esfregaço Vaginal/estatística & dados numéricos , Índias OcidentaisRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Weight changes are predictors of health outcomes in older people. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between 2-year weight change and mortality in older Mexican Americans. METHODS: Seven year prospective cohort study of 1,749 non-institutionalized Mexican American men and women aged 65 and older residing in five Southwestern states. Measures include self-reports of medical conditions (heart attack, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, hip fracture or cancer), functional disability, high depressive symptoms, smoking status, a summary performance score of lower body function, hand grip muscle strength, and body mass index (BMI). Weight change was examined by comparing the baseline weight to the weight two years later to estimate the hazard of death within the following five-year period. RESULTS: Of the 1,749 subjects, 396 (22.6%) lost 5% or more weight, 984 (56.3%) had weight that remained stable, and 369 (21.1%) gained 5% or more weight between baseline and the 2-year follow-up period. Of the ones who lost 5% of weight, 28% died as compared to 19.7% and 15.2% of those whose weight remained stable and those who gained weight after 5 years, respectively. The hazard ratio (HR) of death for the group that lost 5% or more of their weight compared to the reference group (stable weight) was 1.35 (95% CI 1.06-1.70) after controlling for demographic variables, BMI, and waist circumference at baseline and 1.32 (95% CI 1.04-1.67) after controlling for all covariates. The HR of death for the group that gained 5% or more of weight was 0.78 (95% CI 0.58-1.05) after controlling for demographic variables, BMI, and waist circumference at baseline and 0.77 (95% CI 0.57-1.04) after controlling for all covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss is an independent predictor of mortality among older Mexican Americans, after controlling for relevant risk factors.
Assuntos
Americanos Mexicanos , Mortalidade , Aumento de Peso/etnologia , Redução de Peso/etnologia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Envelhecimento/fisiologia , Feminino , Nível de Saúde , Humanos , Masculino , Fatores de Risco , Aumento de Peso/fisiologia , Redução de Peso/fisiologiaRESUMO
Obesity and hypertension are major public health concerns in the US. We examined the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure in older Mexican Americans using data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (EPESE), a longitudinal study of Mexican Americans aged 65 and over residing in the southwestern US. The study sample was 2404 older Mexican American adults with a mean age of 72.6 years of age at baseline (1993-4). Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were higher in subjects with high BMI categories. The rate of change in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were -0.11 mm Hg and -0.32 mm Hg per year over a 7-year period, respectively. The rate of decline in systolic and diastolic blood pressure over a 7-year period was greater in subjects with BMI categories of 25- < 30 kg/m2 and 30- < 35 kg/m2 as compared with those subjects with in the lowest and in the highest BMI categories. Hypertension is one of the most prevalent medical conditions affecting older adults. Understanding possible modifiable risk factors that may play a role in the management of hypertension will be beneficial.