Diabetes among racial and ethnically diverse older adults in the United States with cognitive limitations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2024
Department/School
Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology
Publication Title
Journal of Racial an dEthnic Health Disparities
Abstract
Diabetes is one of the most common coexisting conditions among adults with cognitive limitations. Complexities of diabetes care present challenges for older adults and their caregivers. Few studies have evaluated disparities in the prevalence of coexisting diabetes among older adults with cognitive limitations by race/ethnicity and nativity. Our objectives were to (1) estimate the odds of coexisting diabetes among US- and foreign-born racial/ethnic groups compared to US-born non-Hispanic White older adults and (2) compare US- and foreign-born older adults within each racial/ethnic group. We linked and analyzed 2000–2017 National Health Interview Survey and 2001–2018 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data among older adults with cognitive limitations (ages ≥ 65 years, n = 4688). The overall prevalence of coexisting diabetes among older adults with cognitive limitations was 30.3%. Among older adults with cognitive limitations and after adjusted for age, sex, education, and risk factors for diabetes and cognitive limitations, non-Hispanic Black (US-born OR = 1.56, 95%CI = 1.23–1.98; foreign-born OR = 2.69, 95%CI = 1.20–6.05) and Hispanic (US-born OR = 2.13, 95%CI = 1.34–3.40; foreign-born OR = 2.02, 95%CI = 1.49–2.72) older adults had higher odds of coexisting diabetes compared to US-born non-Hispanic Whites. There were no differences in the odds of coexisting diabetes among foreign-born non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults compared to US-born counterparts. Findings suggest a large potential burden of coexisting diabetes among this growing populations of US- and foreign-born racially/ethnically diverse older adults with cognitive limitations. Future studies are needed to examine how diabetes self-efficacy, treatment, and monitoring are impacted by cognitive limitations and determine ways to improve care in collaboration with caregivers and healthcare providers.
Link to Published Version
Recommended Citation
Kindratt, T. B., Moncriffe, B., Ajrouch, K. J., Zahodne, L. B., & Dallo, F. J. (2024). Diabetes among racial and ethnically diverse older adults in the United States with cognitive limitations. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 11(1), 238–247. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-023-01514-8
Comments
K. J. Ajrouch is a faculty member in EMU's Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology.