Dataset Information

Correlates of Elevated C-Reactive Protein Among Black Older Adults: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Substantial evidence documents gender and racial disparities in C-reactive protein (CRP), a measure of systemic inflammation, among older adults. Yet, the comparative approaches of these studies may obscure distinct risk and protective factors associated with elevated CRP among older Black Americans. To pinpoint opportunities for intervention, this study utilizes a "within-group approach" to identify the sociodemographic, psychosocial, behavioral, and health-related correlates of elevated CRP among older Black women and men.

Method

The sample consisted of 2,420 Black respondents aged 51 and older in the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2016). Gender-stratified, random effects logistic regression models were used to examine correlates of elevated CRP (>3.0 mg/L).

Results

More than 50% of Black women had elevated CRP, and younger age, Medicaid, lower mastery, religiosity, overweight/obesity, physical inactivity, and activities of daily living (ADLs) contributed to elevated CRP among this group. In contrast, elevated CRP was reported among only 37.25% of Black men, for whom financial distress was associated with lower odds of elevated CRP; religiosity, less neighborhood cohesion, current smoking, overweight/obesity, ADLs, and more chronic conditions were associated with greater odds of elevated CRP among this group.

Discussion

Sociodemographic factors had a limited association with elevated CRP among older Black Americans. Rather, a range of psychosocial, behavioral, and health-related factors were more influential determinants of elevated CRP among older Black Americans. Most notably, findings demonstrate distinct correlates of CRP among Black women and men, underscoring the critical need to further evaluate the risk and protective mechanisms undergirding disparities among this aging population.

SUBMITTER: Farmer HR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9683501 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Correlates of Elevated C-Reactive Protein Among Black Older Adults: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study.

Farmer Heather R HR Thomas Tobin Courtney S CS Thorpe Roland J RJ

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 20221101 11

<h4>Objectives</h4>Substantial evidence documents gender and racial disparities in C-reactive protein (CRP), a measure of systemic inflammation, among older adults. Yet, the comparative approaches of these studies may obscure distinct risk and protective factors associated with elevated CRP among older Black Americans. To pinpoint opportunities for intervention, this study utilizes a "within-group approach" to identify the sociodemographic, psychosocial, behavioral, and health-related correlates ...[more]

PMID: 35147674

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Project description:BackgroundThis study tentatively constructs a composite measure of Chinese Healthy Ageing Index (CHAI) among older adults aged 60+ and investigates change of CHAI during 2011-2015 and its association with sociodemographic characteristics.MethodsData collected from 8182 old adults aged 60+ in the 2011 and 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, a nationally representative sample) were used. Six medical measures of blood pressure, peak expiratory flow, cognitive status score, fasting glucose, kidney function and C-reactive function were used to construct CHAI (range 0-12, 0-2 = healthiest, 7-12 = unhealthiest). Ordinary least squares, logistic and random effects models examined social and spatial determinants of CHAI score and the prevalence of the ideal CHAI. Unconditional quantile regression tested heterogeneous impacts of sociodemographic determinants of CHAI score.ResultsMean CHAI score declined from 5.7 to 5.2, and the proportion of the ideal CHAI (CHAI score = 0-2) increased from 5.6 to 9.4% during 2011-2015, indicating an improvement in healthy ageing over time. During 2011-2015, the highest rates of the ideal CHAI were in Southeast and East of China. Older adults, male, living in the Center and West, smoking, obesity/overweight and having chronic diseases were positively associated with total CHAI score and negatively with a higher prevalence of the ideal CHAI. Being married, having high education and regular social activities were associated with a higher rate of the ideal CHAI. The positive predictors for total CHAI were stronger in those with worse CHAI status.ConclusionsIn China healthy ageing has improved during 2011-2015, but substantial geographical and sociodemographic heterogeneities exist in the improvements, suggesting health equality remains a challenge in China. Future policies and interventions should especially focus on men, those in Central and West China, and combat health problems like obesity, chronic diseases and unhealthy behaviors.

Dataset Information

Correlates of Elevated C-Reactive Protein Among Black Older Adults: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study.

Objectives

Method

Results

Discussion

Publications

Correlates of Elevated C-Reactive Protein Among Black Older Adults: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study.

Similar Datasets

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