The influence of noncognitive factors on the Mini-Mental State Examination in older Mexican-Americans: findings from the Hispanic EPESE. Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly.

Mini-Mental State Examination data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly baseline survey, a population-based study of community-dwelling Mexican Americans aged 65 and older, were used to examine the relationship between cognitive impairment, sociodemographics, and health-related characteristics. The rate of cognitive impairment found in this group of older Mexican Americans, using the conventional cut point of 23/24 on the MMSE, was 36.7%. Using a more conservative cut point of 17/18 indicated an overall rate of severe cognitive impairment of 6.7%. Rates of impairment varied significantly with age, education, literacy, marital status, language of interview, and immigrant status and were associated with high and moderate levels of depressive symptoms, and history of stroke. Importantly, although education was strongly related to poor cognitive performance, it was not a significant predictor of severe cognitive impairment. Multivariate analyses further indicated that as a screen for cognitive impairment in older Mexican Americans, the MMSE is strongly influenced by these noncognitive factors. Scores may reflect test bias, secondary to cultural differences or the level of education in this population.

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.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence rates of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medication usage among community-dwelling older Mexican Americans. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of a regional probability sample of older Mexican Americans. SETTING: The 1992-1997 Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE), a probability sample of noninstitutionalized Mexican Americans, age 65 and over, living in the five Southwestern states of Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California. PARTICIPANTS: 2899 persons, age 65 and over, considered Mexican American, using appropriate weighting procedures to produce regional estimates. OUTCOME MEASURES: Use of prescription and OTC medication within the last 2 weeks before the survey confirmed by in-home review of medication containers. RESULTS: Medication users consumed a mean of 2.9 prescription and 1.3 OTC medications. Over half (58.9%, n = 1,798) of the participants used at least one prescribed medication, and 31.3% (n = 847) used at least one OTC medication within the 2 weeks before their participation in the study. Factors associated with both prescription and OTC medication usage were self-perceived health and number of co-morbid conditions. Factors associated only with prescription medication usage included female gender, alcohol usage, ADL dependency, and presence of additional insurance. Structural assimilation was associated only with OTC medication usage. CONCLUSIONS: These data show lower prevalence rates of prescription medication usage among Mexican American older men and lower rates of OTC medication usage in older Mexican Americans of both genders than previously reported in other ethnic groups. This may reflect differences in time and geographic location of the Hispanic EPESE relative to other EPESE studies, ethnic differences in access to care as reflected by insurance in addition to Medicare, ethnic differences in survival, especially among males, or ethnic differences in medication preferences.