The Office of Research, Health Assessment, and Data Systems (ORHADS) at the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) routinely collects, analyzes, and reports the health status of Boston residents. This information is used to identify and monitor health disparities within vulnerable populations such as residents ages 65 and over.
The monitoring of health outcomes among individuals ages 65 and over is crucial since morbidity and mortality health status indicators are quite different for this age group from those of populations under age 65. Individuals who are 65 and over often have chronic conditions and causes of death, such as heart disease, cancer, circulatory disorders, and certain respiratory diseases, which are not as common in younger age groups.
The burden of disease in the population age 65 and over is also not shared equally by age, race/ethnicity, gender, or by local geographic areas such as neighborhoods. For example, during 1990-1993 among Boston residents, ages 75-84, prostate cancer mortality for non-Hispanic Blacks (514.9 per 100,000) was 1.5 times higher than for non-Hispanic Whites (355.3 per 100,000). By 1994-1996, the rate for non-Hispanic Whites had declined to 288.9 per 100,000. However, the rate for non-Hispanic Blacks had increased to 762.8 per 100,000 or 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic Whites.
Understanding the health status of the 65 and over population can provide important implications for the growing population in this age group, increase in life expectancy, and quality of life.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, all participants should be able to do the following: 1. Understand how to identify and monitor health disparities for people 65 and older 2. Gain an understanding of why it is important to monitor health status of this age group separately from younger age groups 3. Understand why it is important to monitor health status of age groups within the 65 and over population 4. Gain an understanding of the health status of Boston residents who are 65 or older
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.