New Estimates of Racial/Ethnic Differences in Life Expectancy with Chronic Morbidity and Functional Loss: Evidence from the National Health Interview Survey

• Published in: Journal of cross-cultural gerontology 2013-09, Vol.28 (3), p.283-297
• Main Authors: Cantu, Phillip A., Hayward, Mark D., Hummer, Robert A., Chiu, Chi-Tsun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Anthropology; Black or African American - statistics & numerical data; Chronic Disease - epidemiology; Chronic Disease - mortality; Differences; Disabled Persons; Ethnicity; Female; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Health; Health Problems; Health Surveys; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic or Latino - statistics & numerical data; Hispanics; Humans; Life expectancy; Life Expectancy - ethnology; Life Expectancy - trends; Longevity; Male; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Morbidity; Mortality Rates; Original Article; Philosophy of Medicine; Racial Differences; Racial differentiation; Smoking; Social Sciences; Theory of Medicine/Bioethics; U.S.A; United States - epidemiology; White People - statistics & numerical data; Whites
• ISSN: 0169-3816; 1573-0719
• DOI: 10.1007/s10823-013-9206-5

This study documents the mortality, chronic morbidity and physical functioning experiences of U.S. Hispanics, non-Hispanic whites, and non-Hispanic blacks 50 years of age and older in the United States. Hispanics are classified by nativity to better assess an important source of heterogeneity in population health within that population. Drawing on mortality and morbidity data from the National Health Interview Survey, demographic models of healthy life expectancy are used to derive estimates of life expectancy, life expectancy with and without chronic morbidity conditions, and life expectancy with and without functional limitations. The results not only highlight the mortality advantages of foreign-born Hispanics, but also document their health advantages in terms of morbidity and physical functioning beyond age 50. Nativity is a highly important factor differentiating the health and mortality experiences of Hispanics: U.S.-born Hispanics have a health profile more indicative of their minority status while foreign-born Hispanics have much more favorable mortality and health profiles. Differences in smoking across racial/ethnic/nativity groups is suggested as an important reason behind the apparent health advantages of foreign-born Hispanics relative to whites as well as relative to their U.S.-born counterparts.