Racial Groups Differ In Longevity, Quality Of Old Age

2-19-97

University Park, Pa. --- African-Americans, compared to other non-White ethnic groups, bear the double burden of a shorter life span and poorer health throughout their adult lives, note two Penn State researchers.

"In terms of longevity and health over the entire life course, the most disadvantaged race group in the United States is the African-American," says Dr. Mark D. Hayward, professor of sociology at Penn State and research associate with the University's Population Research Institute. "Blacks in the 20-24 age group have a life expectancy of 47 years. Of these, an average of 9 years will be spent with a chronic health impairment."

While relatively long-lived compared to African-Americans and Hispanics, Native Americans are plagued by ill health, even during their prime years, adds Melonie Heron, doctoral student in sociology. At all ages, Native Americans have the highest rates of disability due to diabetes, alcoholism and heart disease.

Hayward and Heron are co-authors of the paper, "Racial Inequality in Active Life among Adult Americans," recently presented at the International Network On Health Expectancy in Rome.

Native American men at age 20-24 can expect to live on average another 53 years, but they will spend a quarter of those years (13.2) with a chronic ailment, Heron says.

At age 30-34, the rate of disability among Native American men is almost 11 percent. Black-American men do not have reach this level of disability until their late 30s, White Americans not until 50-54 and Asian-Americans not until about the age of 60.

Like Blacks, Hispanics also live substantially fewer years than other ethnic or racial groups, but at the same time they face fewer severe health problems.

"Asians approach what some have called the ideal," Hayward says. "Asian men and women live a long life, and they live most of it in good health. Asian men in the 20-24 age range can expect to live an additional 59 years with only 11 percent of their remaining life (6.5 years) with a serious health problem."

Across all racial grounds, longer life for women means correspondingly poor health, he adds.

"Race differences in longevity and the percentage of years spent in poor health need to be factored into nationwide disease prevention and treatment programs," Heron notes. "These programs should have a two fold goal -- longer life and better health -- for all Americans."

Partial research for this research was provided by grants from the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Hewlett Foundation.

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EDITORS: Dr. Hayward can be reached at (814) 865-2003 (office); Ms. Heron is at (814) 863-9571 (office)or at heron@pop.psu.edu on the Internet.

Contacts:
Paul Blaum (814) 865-9481 (office) pab15@psu.edu
Vicki Fong (814) 865-9481 (office) vyf1@psu.edu