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. 2016 Jul;70(7):653-62.
doi: 10.1136/jech-2015-206074. Epub 2016 Jan 19.

Ethnic inequalities in limiting health and self-reported health in later life revisited

Maria Evandrou  1 , Jane Falkingham  2 , Zhixin Feng  3 , Athina Vlachantoni  1
Affiliations

Ethnic inequalities in limiting health and self-reported health in later life revisited

Maria Evandrou et al. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2016 Jul.

Abstract

Background: It is well established that there are ethnic inequalities in health in the UK; however, such inequalities in later life remain a relatively under-researched area. This paper explores ethnic inequalities in health among older people in the UK, controlling for social and economic disadvantages.

Methods: This paper analyses the first wave (2009-2011) of Understanding Society to examine differentials in the health of older persons aged 60 years and over. 2 health outcomes are explored: the extent to which one's health limits the ability to undertake typical activities and self-rated health. Logistic regression models are used to control for a range of other factors, including income and deprivation.

Results: After controlling for social and economic disadvantage, black and minority ethnic (BME) elders are still more likely than white British elders to report limiting health and poor self-rated health. The 'health disadvantage' appears most marked among BME elders of South Asian origin, with Pakistani elders exhibiting the poorest health outcomes. Length of time resident in the UK does not have a direct impact on health in models for both genders, but is marginally significant for women.

Conclusions: Older people from ethnic minorities report poorer health outcomes even after controlling for social and economic disadvantages. This result reflects the complexity of health inequalities among different ethnic groups in the UK, and the need to develop health policies which take into account differences in social and economic resources between different ethnic groups.

Keywords: ELDERLY; ETHNICITY; Health inequalities.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) (Women) and (B) (men): Percentage reporting that health limits typical activities by age and ethnicity, Great Britain (χ2 significant at p<0.001). Understanding Society (2009–2011; total number for men: 20 854; total number for women 26 550; there are no Pakistani men in the sample aged 75+ years).
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) (Women) and (B) (men): Percentage reporting poor self-rated health by age and ethnicity, Great Britain (χ2 significant at p<0.001). Understanding Society (2009–2011; total number for men: 21 008; total number for women 26 670; there are no Bangladeshi women and other Asian men aged 75+ years in the sample).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percentage of persons aged 60 years and over by income quintile and ethnicity (generated from income distribution of all aged 60 years and above). Understanding Society (2009–2011).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Percentage of persons aged 60 years and over by ethnicity and quartile of summed experience of deprivation (quartiles: 0–3 (least deprived), 3–5, 5–8 and above 8 (most deprived)). Understanding Society (2009–2011).
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