Older black adults experienced a faster nonlinear rate of change in functional limitation after an incident MI compared to older white adults, independent of other social and health factors.
Cohort (n=243)
Does black race affect the trajectory of functional status after an incident MI in older adults compared to white race?
Older black adults experience a more abrupt deterioration in functional limitation post-MI and a more substantial recovery compared to older white adults, independent of social and health factors.
BACKGROUND: A myocardial infarction (MI) results typically in abrupt functional deterioration immediately postevent, followed by recovery. The post-MI health disparities experienced by black older adults may be attributable to the social and health correlates of race. We explored patterns of change in functional status in a community-based sample of 243 older white and black persons hospitalized for an incident MI. METHODS: The study sample was drawn from the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE). All older adults hospitalized for an incident MI between the first two waves of data collection were followed up yearly for two additional years. Nonlinear quadratic trajectories of functional status, as measured by disability in activities of daily living (ADL) and functional limitation (FL), were fit using mixed-effects models. RESULTS: Although there were no nonlinear differences in ADL trajectories, there was a faster nonlinear rate of change in FL in older blacks compared to whites, independent of other social and health factors. The baseline white-black gap in FL widened after the MI by the first follow-up, continued to widen at a less accelerated pace until the second follow-up, and narrowed by the third follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Disparities in relevant social and health factors did not account for the more abrupt deterioration in FL postevent or for the more substantial recovery in older blacks compared to older whites. Disparities in therapeutic strategies and the "survival of the fittest" may underlie the pattern of this white-black gap in FL after an incident MI.
Popa et al. (2008) conducted a cohort in Incident myocardial infarction (n=243). Black race vs. White race was evaluated on Trajectories of functional status (disability in activities of daily living and functional limitation). Older black adults experienced a faster nonlinear rate of change in functional limitation after an incident MI compared to older white adults, independent of other social and health factors.