Measuring the impact of diabetes on life expectancy and disability-free life expectancy among older adults in Mexico

• Published in: The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences Vol. 65B; no. 3; pp. 381 - 389
• Main Author: Andrade, Flávia C D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press for Gerontological Society of America 01.05.2010
• Series: Journals of Gerontology: Series B
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - classification; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - ethnology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - mortality; Disability Evaluation; Female; Health Promotion; Health Status; Health Surveys; Humans; Life Expectancy - ethnology; Male; Mexico; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance - ethnology; Physical Fitness; Social Support; Mexico
• ISSN: 1079-5014; 1758-5368
• DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbp119

OBJECTIVES. The aim of the present study is to investigate differences in total life expectancy (TLE), disability-free life expectancy (DFLE), disabled life expectancy (DLE), and personal care assistance between individuals with and without diabetes in Mexico. The sample was drawn from the nationally representative Mexican Health and Aging Study. Disability was assessed through a basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL) measure, the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale, and the Nagi physical performance measure. The Interpolation of Markov Chains method was used to estimate the impact of diabetes on TLE and DFLE. Results indicate that diabetes reduces TLE at ages 50 and 80 by about 10 and 4 years, respectively. Diabetes is also associated with fewer years in good health. DFLE (based on ADL measures) at age 50 is 20.8 years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 19.2-22.3) for those with diabetes, compared with 29.9 years (95% CI: 28.8-30.9) for those without diabetes. Regardless of diabetes status, Mexican women live longer but face a higher disability burden than men. Among older adults in Mexico, diabetes is associated with shorter TLE and DFLE. The negative effect of diabetes on the number of years lived, particularly in good health, creates significant economic, social, and individual costs for elderly Mexicans.