Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To identify the prevalence and characteristics of gall bladder disease (GBD) that has been self-reported in Mexican American Elders. METHODS: A prospective survey of a regional probability sample of self-identified Mexican Americans aged 65 and over. The Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (H-EPESE), a probability sample of non-institutionalized, Mexican Americans, aged 65 and over, residing in Southwestern states of Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California. In 1993- 1994 (Wave 1), 3050 Mexican Americans, aged 65 and over, were selected at baseline as a weighted probability sample. In 1995-1996 (Wave 2), 2895 remained. Sample weights were used to extrapolate to the estimated 498,176 older Mexican Americans residing in the Southwest United States. Self-reported GBD was collected via in-home interviews. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported GBD in Mexican American elders was found to be 18.8% with an average age of 75.05 years. The findings indicate that older Mexican Americans have an increased rate of GBD if they are female, have history of arthritis or hypertension and have more acculturation to the United States. However, the rate decreases when they score poorly on the Mini Mental State Exam. One major limitation was reliance on self-report, as GBD and other co-morbid illnesses may be under-, or overestimated. CONCLUSIONS: Age is not protective in the prevalence of GBD in elder Mexican Americans. Persistent underlying genetics and dietary habits most likely attribute to this consistent high percentage, even in the elderly.