Health and Chronic Disease Epidemiology among Latino Adults

Barbara Zsembik, University of Florida

This research evaluates whether the three largest Latino groups are participating in the national trend in delaying morbidity until late life. Data from the 1997-2000 National Health Interview Surveys are used to examine ethnic differentials in the relationship between age and three indicators of chronic disease morbidity: number of medical conditions, number of functional limitations, and activity or participation restriction directly due to chronic conditions. In early adulthood, Mexicans and Cubans have better health profiles than whites, whereas Puerto Ricans experience health disparities. Mexican health disparities emerge and widen in middle age, and persist into old age. Cubans' health advantage and Puerto Ricans' health disparity disappears in middle age, and older Cubans and Puerto Ricans have health profiles similar to older whites. The data suggest that Mexicans are NOT participating in the compression of chronic disease morbidity, whereas Puerto Ricans and Cubans appear to be delaying morbidity to later ages.