Julianne G Clina, David A White, Joseph R Sherman, Jessica C Danon, Daniel E Forsha, Brian C Helsel, Richard A Washburn, Joseph E Donnelly, Lauren T Ptomey
{"title":"Daily physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with Down syndrome with and without congenital heart disease.","authors":"Julianne G Clina, David A White, Joseph R Sherman, Jessica C Danon, Daniel E Forsha, Brian C Helsel, Richard A Washburn, Joseph E Donnelly, Lauren T Ptomey","doi":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101778","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101778","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) typically exhibit lower cardiorespiratory fitness and reduced moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) compared to persons without disability. Approximately 50-55 % of individuals with DS have congenital heart disease (CHD), which is associated with cardiopulmonary deficiencies and reduced MVPA participation in non-DS populations. It is unknown if CHD related comorbidities compound with DS associated deficits in physical activity and fitness.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To compare physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiovascular function, of persons with DS with and without CHD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Baseline data were used from a 12-month randomized controlled physical activity intervention of adults with DS. Participants with DS were age and sex matched based on presence of CHD. Measures of physical activity through accelerometry (n = 42; CHD, n = 21), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO<sub>2peak</sub>; n = 34, CHD n = 17), and cardiovascular function (anaerobic threshold, chronotropic index, O<sub>2</sub> pulse; n = 34, CHD n = 17) were compared by CHD status using Wilcoxon rank sum tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were no differences in VO<sub>2peak</sub> between those with and without CHD (CHD 20.3 ml/kg/min; no CHD 21.3 ml/kg/min, p = 0.44). MVPA was lower for those with CHD vs. without CHD (10.0 vs 13.3 min/week, p = 0.05). There were no differences in cardiovascular function by group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Fitness and physical activity were low regardless of CHD status. Adults with DS and CHD may engage in less physical activity than those without CHD, however fitness and cardiovascular function were not further impaired by CHD. Given the prevalence of CHD in DS, it is important to include those with CHD in work increasing physical activity and fitness.</p>","PeriodicalId":49300,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"101778"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The prevalence of disability among adolescents and young adults in low and middle-income countries: A cross-sectional comparison of two measures.","authors":"Eric Emerson, Gwynnyth Llewellyn","doi":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101777","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Washington Group Short Set on Functioning (WG-SS) is frequently used to identify disability among adults in national surveys. Concerns have been raised about the utility of the WG-SS given that it fails to include any items relating to psychosocial disability.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To compare prevalence estimates for adolescents and young adults derived from the Washington Group's Child Functioning Module (WG-CFM; age 15-17) and the WG-SS (age 18-25). To estimate the prevalence of impairments among adolescents who were not categorised as having a disability based on the six WG-SS domains. To investigate the association between disability and relative household wealth among adolescents with disabilities who were/were not categorised as having a disability based on the six WG-SS domains.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Secondary analysis of 40 nationally representative surveys collected in low- and middle-income countries.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Prevalence estimates for disability were significantly higher among adolescents (15.1 % 95 % 14.8-15.4) than young adults (3.2 % 95 % 3.1-3.3). The WG-SS only identified 21%-23 % of young adults who are likely to have a disability. Among adolescents, those identified as having a disability by the WG-CFM, but as not having a disability by the items in the WG-CFM similar to the six domains of the WG-SS primarily had functional limitations related to anxiety and depression. Household wealth was unrelated to disability based on the six WG-SS domains but was strongly related to disability identified by the WG-CFM.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The WG-SS, as it stands, should not be used to identify disability in young adult populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":49300,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"101777"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143069019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring the increased prevalence of autism in the fee-for-service Medicare population with open data, 2007 to 2018.","authors":"Ethan M Yoo","doi":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101776","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101776","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network continues to report increases in the percentage of U.S. children identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Few studies, however, have examined prevalence among U.S. adults.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To use open data on ASD prevalence among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries, considering trends in the context of sociodemographic factors and dual enrollment in Medicaid.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Administrative prevalence estimates from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) were used to explore changes in ASD prevalence among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries. These rates were compared with corresponding childhood prevalence estimates from the ADDM Network.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 2018, there were 87,108 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with autism diagnoses, representing a 236.1% increase from 2008. For 8-year-old children in the ADDM Network, the 2008-2018 change was 32.41%. National ASD prevalence increased in the fee-for-service Medicare population every year from 2007 through 2018, most substantially for beneficiaries under the age of 65. While only 10 states had a prevalence at or above 1 in 1000 beneficiaries in 2007, 48 states and the District of Columbia had a prevalence above that value in 2018. Prevalence in the Medicare population also increased from 2016 to 2018, a period in which program enrollment declined.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Even more so than among children, autism prevalence increased in the fee-for-service Medicare population from 2007 through 2018. While geographic and sociodemographic differences in ASD identification existed, prevalence grew across states and most subgroups. Further research is needed to address questions involving the identification and support of autistic adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":49300,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"101776"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143189978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Falguni Basnet, Colin Killick, Leslie Diaz, Sabrina Felteau
{"title":"The importance of Ombudsman programs in supporting the transition from medicare-medicaid plans to dual special needs plans.","authors":"Falguni Basnet, Colin Killick, Leslie Diaz, Sabrina Felteau","doi":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101774","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101774","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this paper, we examine the critical role of Ombudsman programs in facilitating the transition from Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MMPs) to Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPS) for dual-eligible members. As states implement this federally mandated transition, Ombudsman programs serve as essential supports for the dual-eligible population who are navigating complex healthcare changes. Through analysis of Ombudsman programs in California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Michigan, we highlight how these services address beneficiary concerns, resolve access issues, and provide valuable insights to policymakers. We emphasize the importance of maintaining and potentially expanding Ombudsman programs during and after the transition to ensure person-centric, high-quality care for dual-eligible members.</p>","PeriodicalId":49300,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"101774"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143041942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joanne Nicholson, Kristen Faughnan, Allie F Silverman, Victoria Lesser, May-Lynn Andresen, Madelyn Bahr, Tim Corey, Teal W Benevides, Hoangmai Pham
{"title":"Diverse perspectives on supporting the health and wellness of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.","authors":"Joanne Nicholson, Kristen Faughnan, Allie F Silverman, Victoria Lesser, May-Lynn Andresen, Madelyn Bahr, Tim Corey, Teal W Benevides, Hoangmai Pham","doi":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101775","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101775","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Persons with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) are a growing population, frequently living with complex health conditions and unmet healthcare needs. Traditional clinical practice and research methods and measures may require adaptation to reflect their preferences.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The perspectives of people with IDD, caregivers/partners, and clinicians were obtained to provide insight into factors contributing to the health and wellness of people with IDD. These, in turn, suggest opportunities for improvements in clinical training and care, and considerations for enhancing research methods and measures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An exploratory design, participatory methods, abductive qualitative approach and thematic analysis were employed. Interview data were obtained in twelve focus groups with people with IDD (n = 25), caregivers/partners (n = 21), and clinicians (n = 27). Particular attention was paid to supporting attendees in focus group participation, with adaptations and accommodations made for communication preferences, and graphic illustrations were provided.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Themes emerging across attendee categories that reflect factors contributing to health and wellness for people with IDD include: (1) making healthy choices; (2) participating in everyday activities; (3) benefitting from natural supports (e.g., family, friends, peers); and (4) accessing skilled professional supports (e.g., healthcare provision and payment).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Study findings underscore factors related to supporting health and wellness for people with IDD and suggest the importance of autonomy, accessibility, healthy relationships, self-advocacy, and tailored clinical care. People with IDD can be actively engaged throughout the research enterprise to ensure the relevance, acceptability, and accessibility of research methods and measures; promote inclusiveness; and address health disparities.</p>","PeriodicalId":49300,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"101775"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143015011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Housing stability for households with LTSS needs in America: Contrasting pre-pandemic housing data from 2017 with data from 2021.","authors":"Kartik Trivedi, Sydney Pickern, Teresa Nguyen","doi":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101773","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101773","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Economically insecure people with disabilities are often forced to choose between health and housing. Housing instability in the form of mortgage, rent delinquency, or missing utility payments can adversely affect the health and well-being of people with disabilities and, specifically, people with LTSS needs.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Our study investigates the disparity in housing stability for LTSS households and non-LTSS disability households in comparison to non-disability households. We also investigate the differences in housing stability indicators between 2017 and 2021 (during COVID-19) to assess the potential impact of the COVID-19 crisis on housing instability. Finally, we conducted a stratified analysis to investigate the intricate relationship between LTSS needs and aging.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used data from the American Housing Survey (AHS) from 2017 to 2021 to conduct a logistic regression analysis to examine housing instability for households with members with LTSS needs. We also conducted a stratified logistic regression analysis, with data stratified by age groups, to investigate whether this relationship varied across different age groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>LTSS households faced housing instability in 2017 and 2021, with higher odds of missing mortgage, rent, and utility payments. Compared to 2017, LTSS households in 2021 face marginally lower odds of missing mortgage and utility payments but higher odds of missing rent.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We need sustained policy intervention to reduce housing instability for LTSS and non-LTSS households. Some policies employed during the COVID-19 crisis at both federal and state levels may have reduced housing instability for the LTSS and non-LTSS disability households.</p>","PeriodicalId":49300,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"101773"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142984755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Heatwave frequency and disability status: Thermal inequities in the U.S. South","authors":"Jayajit Chakraborty PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Although extreme heat has been found to be disproportionately distributed with respect to socially disadvantaged and marginalized groups, persons with disabilities have received limited attention in previous research on heat exposure disparities.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This gap is addressed by analyzing the relationship between local heatwave frequency and the percentages of people with a disability and specific disability types in the U.S. South—a region characterized by extremely high summer temperatures and greater disability prevalence.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Census tract level values of heatwave annualized frequency from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index are linked to relevant disability variables from the latest American Community Survey five-year estimates. Statistical analyses are based on bivariate correlations and multivariable generalized estimating equations that consider spatial clustering of tracts based on climate zone and county.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The overall percentage of civilian noninstitutionalized persons with a disability and more than one disability are significantly greater (<em>p</em> < 0.001) in census tracts with higher heatwave frequency, after controlling for clustering, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, older age, population density, and metropolitan status. Heatwave frequency is also positively and significantly associated (<em>p</em> < 0.01) with the percentages of people with hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and independent living difficulties.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These heat-related distributive injustices in the U.S. South demonstrate an urgent need to: (1) include disability status in future research on social disparities in heatwave exposure; (2) conduct more detailed investigations in other regions, states, and nations; and (3) develop disability-inclusive policies and interventions that provide equitable protection during extreme weather events.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49300,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Health Journal","volume":"18 1","pages":"Article 101665"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141471947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amanda Collins MSPH , Joanna Maselko ScD , Ashley Hagaman PhD , Lisa Bates PhD , Sarah C. Haight MPH , Aparna G. Kachoria MPH , Sugandh Gupta MA , Sonia Bhalotra PhD , Siham Sikander PhD , Amina Bibi MPH
{"title":"Disability severity and risk of new or recurrent intimate partner violence – Evidence from a cohort study in rural Pakistan","authors":"Amanda Collins MSPH , Joanna Maselko ScD , Ashley Hagaman PhD , Lisa Bates PhD , Sarah C. Haight MPH , Aparna G. Kachoria MPH , Sugandh Gupta MA , Sonia Bhalotra PhD , Siham Sikander PhD , Amina Bibi MPH","doi":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101673","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101673","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>People with disabilities are more likely to experience intimate partner violence (IPV) than those without. Most research examining the relationship between disability and IPV, however, is cross-sectional and approaches disability as a binary variable. This relationship is also important to consider in a South Asian context, where it may be affected by cultural norms surrounding IPV, and resources for people with disabilities.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To estimate the degree to which disability severity increases the risk of subsequent IPV among a cohort of mothers living in rural Pakistan.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Mothers from the Bachpan study (N = 869) with data for at least two consecutive waves between 1-, 2-, 3-, and 6-years postpartum were included in this study. Modified Poisson regression models were used to estimate the relationship between disability level in the preceding wave and psychological, physical, and sexual IPV in the following wave.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>For psychological IPV, the risk ratio (RR) for medium severity was 1.27 (95 % CI: 1.10, 1.46) and the RR for high severity was 1.23 (95 % CI: 1.02, 1.48), relative to low severity. Physical IPV had a medium severity RR of 1.44 (95 % CI: 1.00, 2.06) and high severity RR of 1.60 (95 % CI: 1.02, 2.53). For sexual IPV, the medium severity RR was 1.35 (95 % CI: 1.05, 1.75) and the high severity RR was 1.53 (95 % CI: 1.11, 2.10).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study supports that, in a low-income, rural South Asian context, mothers with disabilities are particularly susceptible to future psychological, physical, and sexual <span>IPV</span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49300,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Health Journal","volume":"18 1","pages":"Article 101673"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141838305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daniel G. Whitney PhD , Lillian C. Min MD , Edward A. Hurvitz MD
{"title":"Age, sex, and multi-morbidity stratified mortality risk estimates for adults with cerebral palsy to inform clinical decision making","authors":"Daniel G. Whitney PhD , Lillian C. Min MD , Edward A. Hurvitz MD","doi":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101683","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101683","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>While research has provided key insights into mortality rates and risks for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP), clinically useable mortality risk estimates remain unreported for adults with CP, especially by key patient-level factors.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The objective of this study was to generate clinically useable mortality risk estimates among adults with CP to inform clinical decision making.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective cohort study, using a fee-for-service Medicare database, identified adults ≥18-years-old with CP from 01/01/2008-12/31/2010 and followed through 12/31/2019 for death. Mortality risk at 1-, 3-, 5-, and 9-year intervals were selected based on common clinical length of time to reasonably benefit from preventive care. Sex-stratified analyses assessed risk estimates by narrow age group (18–25/26-34/35–44/45-54/55–64/65-74/≥75 years old) and multi-morbidity group (Whitney Comorbidity Index score 0–2/3/4–6/≥7).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of 24,767 adults with CP, n = 12,962 were men (mean [SD] age = 48.3 [15.0] years) and n = 11,805 were women (age = 49.7 [15.8] years). Loss to follow-up was rare. 1-year risk was similar between men and women (3.4 % vs. 3.3 %), but increased slightly more for men than women through 9-years (30.1 % vs. 28.0 %). As expected, the mortality risk increased with older age and higher WCI scores. The probability of death (and survival) is presented per age and multi-morbidity group for men and women with CP.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Mortality risk estimates were reported at clinically relevant intervals by age, sex, and multi-morbidity status. This information can be used to weigh harm-to-benefit ratios of screening and treatment strategies based on mortality expectancy estimates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49300,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Health Journal","volume":"18 1","pages":"Article 101683"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141996762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Debasree Das Gupta PhD , Uma Kelekar PhD , Kallol Kumar Bhattacharyya PhD , Sidney Carl Turner PhD
{"title":"Racial-ethnic differences in the associations between functional disabilities and subsequent depression among community-dwelling midlife and older adults in the US","authors":"Debasree Das Gupta PhD , Uma Kelekar PhD , Kallol Kumar Bhattacharyya PhD , Sidney Carl Turner PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101709","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101709","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The intersection of race/ethnicity with disability is a critical dimension of mental health outcomes in later ages that remains under-investigated.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>We examined the role of race-ethnicity in moderating the associations between functional disabilities and subsequent depression among Americans 51 and older and stratified into the two age-groups of midlife (51–64) and older adults (≥65).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling Americans (≥51; n = 7475) in the 2016–2018 Health and Retirement Study, we conducted bivariate and multivariable regression analyses. Racial-ethnic groups included non-Hispanic (NH) Black, Hispanic, and NH White and a binary (0/1) outcome defined subsequent depression in 2018. The total number of difficulties on the Nagi, Lawton, and Katz disability scales represented baseline (2016) functional disabilities with a secondary four-level (no/mild/severe with assistance/severe without assistance) disability indicator incorporated to examine the role of assistance with daily living.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Across age-groups, subsequent depression was significantly more prevalent among NH Whites with functional disabilities compared to counterparts reporting no disabilities. Compared to NH Black and Hispanic counterparts, midlife NH Whites were three times more likely to report subsequent depression with each unit increase in the functional disability score, after adjusting for covariates. However, we observed no such racial-ethnic differences among older adults. Among the 51+ severe with no assistance group, adjusted odds of subsequent depression among NH Whites was 2.5 times higher than minority counterparts.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Health programs and environmental adaptations supporting functional care needs in later ages could be beneficial for improving mental health of adults with disabilities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49300,"journal":{"name":"Disability and Health Journal","volume":"18 1","pages":"Article 101709"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142330808","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}