Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence and characteristics associated with self- reported gall bladder disease in Mexican American elders: results from the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies in the Elderly (H-EPESE)

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Romero Y, Thistle JL, Longstreth GF et al. A questionnaire for the assessment of biliary symptoms. Am J Gastroenterol 2003; 98: 1042–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Everhart J, Khare M, Hill M, Maurer KR. Prevalence and ethnic differences in gallbladder disease in the United States. Gastroenterology 1999; 117: 632–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Khare M, Everhart J, Maurer K, Hill MC. Association of ethnicity and body mass index with gallstone disease in the United States. Am J Epidemiol 1995; 141: S69.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Puppala S, Dodd GD, Fowler S et. al. A genomewide search finds major susceptibility loci for gallbladder disease on chromosome 1 in Mexican Americans. Am J Hum Genet 2006; 78: 377–92.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Mendez-Sanchez N, King-Martinez AC, Ramos MH, Pichardo-Bahena R, Uribe M. The Amerindian’s genes in the Mexican population are associated with development of gallstone disease. Am J Gastroenterol 2004; 99: 2166–70.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Tseng M, Millikan R, Maurer KR, Khare M, Everhart JE, Sandler RS. Country of birth and prevalence of gallbladder disease in Mexican Americans. Ethn Dis 2000; 10: 96–105.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Black SA, Ray LA, Angel RJ, Espino DV, Miranda M, Markides KS. Resource Book of the Established Populations for Epidemiologic studies of the Elderly. In National Archive for Computerized Data on Aging, 2003. Ann Arbor, MI: 1–5.

  8. Haffner SM, Diehl AK, Valdez R et al. Clinical gallbladder disease in NIDDM subjects. Relationship to duration of diabetes and severity of glycemia. Diabetes Care 1993; 16: 1276–84.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sahi T, Paffenbarger RS, Hsieh CC, Lee IM. Body mass index, cigarette smoking, and other characteristics as predictors of self-reported, physician-diagnosed gallbladder disease in male college alumni. Am J Epidemiol 1998; 147: 644–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. La Vecchia C, Decarli A, Ferraroni M, Negri E. Alcohol drinking and prevalence of self-reported gallstone disease in the 1983 Italian national health survey. Epidemiology 1994; 5: 533–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR. “Mini-mental State” — A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res 1975; 12: 189–98.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Anonymous. Mortality patterns — United States, 1997. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1999; 48: 664–8.

  13. Espino DV, Lichtenstein MJ, Hazuda HP et al. Correlates of prescription and over-the-counter medication usage among older Mexican Americans: the Hispanic EPESE study. Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly. J Am Geriatr Soc 1998; 46: 1228–34.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Katz S, Downs TD, Cash HR, Grotz RC. Progress in the development of an index of ADL. Gerontologist 1970; 10: 20–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Katz S, Ford AB, Moskowitz RW. Studies of illness in the aged; the index of ADL: a standardized measure of biological and psychosocial function. J Am Med Assoc 1963; 185: 914–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Fillenbaum GG. Screening the elderly: a brief instrumental activities of daily living measure. J Am Geriatr Soc 1985; 33: 698–706.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Green CR, Mohs RC, Schmeidler J, Aryan M, Davis KL. Functional decline in Alzheimer’s disease: a longitudinal study. J Am Geriatr Soc 1993; 41: 654–61.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lawton MP, Brody EM. Assessment of older people: self-monitoring and instrument activities of daily living. Gerontologist 1969; 9: 179–86.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Rosow I, Breslau N. A Guttman health scale for the aged. J Gerontol 1966; 21: 556–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Washburn RA, Smith KW, Jette AM, Janney CA. The Physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE): development and evaluation. J Clin Epidemiol 1993; 46: 153–62.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Winograd CH, Lemsky CM, Nevitt MC et al. Development of a physical performance and mobility examination. J Am Geriatr Soc 1994; 42: 743–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Seeman TE, Charpentier PA, Berkman LF et al. Predicting changes in physical performance in a high-functioning elderly cohort: MacArthur studies of successful aging. J Gerontol 1994; 49: 97–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Guralnik JM, Simonsick EM, Ferrucci L et al. A short physical performance battery assessing lower extremity function: association with self-reported disability and prediction of mortality and nursing home admission. J Gerontol 1994; 49: 85–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Guralnik JM, Ferrucci L, Simonsick E et al. Lower-extremity function in persons over the age of 70 years: predictor of subsequent disability. N Engl J Med 1995; 132: 556–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Simon JA, Hudes ES. Serum ascorbic acid and gallbladder disease prevalence among US adults: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Arch Intern Med 2000; 160: 931–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Christus-Santa Rosa Medical Center, San Antonio, USA

    Veronica Escobar

  2. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, USA

    Veronica Escobar, S. Liliana Oakes, Robert Wood, Johanna Becho & David V. Espino MD

  3. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas, USA

    Kyriakos Markides

Authors
  1. Veronica Escobar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Liliana Oakes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Robert Wood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Johanna Becho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kyriakos Markides
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. David V. Espino MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David V. Espino MD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Escobar, V., Oakes, S.L., Wood, R. et al. Prevalence and characteristics associated with self- reported gall bladder disease in Mexican American elders: results from the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies in the Elderly (H-EPESE). Aging Clin Exp Res 21, 33–37 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324896

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324896

Keywords

Search

Navigation