Background/Purpose: Hispanics are the fastest growing group of older adults in the US, with older Mexican Americans the largest segment of US Hispanics (65%), a population with high rates of disability. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of arthritis on physical function and disability among non-disabled older Mexican Americans over time.

Methods: Data are from a 20-year prospective cohort study of 2254 non-institutionalized Mexican American aged 65 years and older from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (1993/94-2012/13) who were non-disabled at baseline. Data on self-reported arthritis, socio-demographic variables, medical conditions (hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, cancer or hip fracture), pain on weight-bearing, activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), short physical performance battery (balance, repeated chair-stand, and timed walk tests), handgrip muscle strength, body mass index (BMI), and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) were collected at each the eighth waves of interview. Any ADL disability was defined as limitation in one or more of the seven ADL activities, and any IADL disability was defined as limitation in one or more of the IADL activities. General equation estimation were fitted to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of ADL and IADL disability and as a function of arthritis. General linear mixed models were performed to estimate change in short physical performance battery (SPPB) tests and handgrip muscle strength. All variables were used as time-varying except for gender and education.

Results: Thirty eight percent of the participants reported arthritis at baseline, 58% were female, and the mean years of education was 4.9. Participants with arthritis were at greater risk of any ADL [OR=1.37, 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=1.12-1.67) and IADL disability over time (OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.16-1.48) after controlling for all covariates. The total SPPB score declined 0.23 points per year among those with arthritis compared with those without arthritis (p-value =0.0105) after controlling for all covariates. The decline in handgrip muscle strength as a function of arthritis was not statistical significant.

Conclusion: Older Mexican Americans with arthritis were at higher risk of developing ADL and IADL disability and experience decline in physical function over 20-years of follow-up. Early prevention of disability will improve the quality of life in this at risk and underserved population.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/arthritis-physical-function-and-disability-among-older-mexican-americans-over-20-years-of-follow-up/