Racial Differences in Mortality in Older Adults: Factors Beyond Socioeconomic Status

Roland J., Jr. Thorpe; Annemarie Koster; Hans Bosma; Tamara B. Harris; Eleanor M. Simonsick; Jacques Th. M. van Eijk; Gertrudis I. J. M. Kempen; Anne B. Newman; Suzanne Satterfield; Susan M. Rubin; Stephen B. Kritchevsky

doi:10.1007/s12160-011-9335-4

Racial Differences in Mortality in Older Adults: Factors Beyond Socioeconomic Status

Roland J., Jr. Thorpe^*, Annemarie Koster, Hans Bosma, Tamara B. Harris, Eleanor M. Simonsick, Jacques Th. M. van Eijk, Gertrudis I. J. M. Kempen, Anne B. Newman, Suzanne Satterfield, Susan M. Rubin, Stephen B. Kritchevsky

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Little is known about the simultaneous effect of socioeconomic status (SES), psychosocial, and health-related factors on race differences in mortality in older adults. This study examined the association between race and mortality and the role of SES, health insurance, psychosocial factors, behavioral factors, and health-related factors in explaining these differences. Data consisted of 2,938 adults participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study. Mortality was assessed over 8 years. SES differences accounted for 60% of the racial differences in all-cause mortality; behavioral factors and self-rated health further reduced the disparity. The racial differences in coronary heart disease mortality were completely explained by SES. Health insurance and behavioral factors accounted for some, but not all, of the race differences in cancer mortality. Race-related risk factors for mortality may differ by the underlying cause of mortality.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	29-38
Journal	Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Volume	43
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-011-9335-4
Publication status	Published - Feb 2012

Keywords

Race
SES
Behavior
Psychosocial
Mortality
Older adults
Aging

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10.1007/s12160-011-9335-4

Cite this

@article{1a324e17469149459b3d7db7c7bcaf15,

title = "Racial Differences in Mortality in Older Adults: Factors Beyond Socioeconomic Status",

abstract = "Little is known about the simultaneous effect of socioeconomic status (SES), psychosocial, and health-related factors on race differences in mortality in older adults. This study examined the association between race and mortality and the role of SES, health insurance, psychosocial factors, behavioral factors, and health-related factors in explaining these differences. Data consisted of 2,938 adults participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study. Mortality was assessed over 8 years. SES differences accounted for 60% of the racial differences in all-cause mortality; behavioral factors and self-rated health further reduced the disparity. The racial differences in coronary heart disease mortality were completely explained by SES. Health insurance and behavioral factors accounted for some, but not all, of the race differences in cancer mortality. Race-related risk factors for mortality may differ by the underlying cause of mortality.",

keywords = "Race, SES, Behavior, Psychosocial, Mortality, Older adults, Aging",

author = "Thorpe, {Roland J., Jr.} and Annemarie Koster and Hans Bosma and Harris, {Tamara B.} and Simonsick, {Eleanor M.} and {van Eijk}, {Jacques Th. M.} and Kempen, {Gertrudis I. J. M.} and Newman, {Anne B.} and Suzanne Satterfield and Rubin, {Susan M.} and Kritchevsky, {Stephen B.}",

year = "2012",

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doi = "10.1007/s12160-011-9335-4",

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AU - Thorpe, Roland J., Jr.

AU - Koster, Annemarie

AU - Bosma, Hans

AU - Harris, Tamara B.

AU - Simonsick, Eleanor M.

AU - van Eijk, Jacques Th. M.

AU - Kempen, Gertrudis I. J. M.

AU - Newman, Anne B.

AU - Satterfield, Suzanne

AU - Rubin, Susan M.

AU - Kritchevsky, Stephen B.

PY - 2012/2

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N2 - Little is known about the simultaneous effect of socioeconomic status (SES), psychosocial, and health-related factors on race differences in mortality in older adults. This study examined the association between race and mortality and the role of SES, health insurance, psychosocial factors, behavioral factors, and health-related factors in explaining these differences. Data consisted of 2,938 adults participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study. Mortality was assessed over 8 years. SES differences accounted for 60% of the racial differences in all-cause mortality; behavioral factors and self-rated health further reduced the disparity. The racial differences in coronary heart disease mortality were completely explained by SES. Health insurance and behavioral factors accounted for some, but not all, of the race differences in cancer mortality. Race-related risk factors for mortality may differ by the underlying cause of mortality.

AB - Little is known about the simultaneous effect of socioeconomic status (SES), psychosocial, and health-related factors on race differences in mortality in older adults. This study examined the association between race and mortality and the role of SES, health insurance, psychosocial factors, behavioral factors, and health-related factors in explaining these differences. Data consisted of 2,938 adults participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study. Mortality was assessed over 8 years. SES differences accounted for 60% of the racial differences in all-cause mortality; behavioral factors and self-rated health further reduced the disparity. The racial differences in coronary heart disease mortality were completely explained by SES. Health insurance and behavioral factors accounted for some, but not all, of the race differences in cancer mortality. Race-related risk factors for mortality may differ by the underlying cause of mortality.

KW - Race

KW - SES

KW - Behavior

KW - Psychosocial

KW - Mortality

KW - Older adults

KW - Aging

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DO - 10.1007/s12160-011-9335-4

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