Objective: To examine the development of activities of daily living (ADL) disability and mortality according to diabetes and high depressive symptoms among Puerto Rican adults aged 60 and older.
Method: Data came from Wave I and Wave II of the Puerto Rican Elderly: Health Conditions Study ( n = 3,419). Logistic regression was used. Using insulin and receiving psychiatric treatment were proxy measures of disease severity for diabetes and depressive symptoms, respectively.
Results: High depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with developing ADL disability (OR = 2.21; 95% CI = [1.68, 2.91]). Diabetes at baseline was associated with mortality at follow-up (OR = 1.72; 95% CI = [1.34, 2.19]). Baseline diabetes was associated with developing ADL disability but only for those who reported using insulin (OR = 1.69; 95% CI = [1.08, 2.61]). Participants with comorbid diabetes and high depressive symptoms had the highest odds for developing ADL disability and mortality.
Discussion: Diabetes and high depressive symptoms are risk factors of developing ADL disability and mortality for older Puerto Ricans.
Keywords: Latin America; diabetes; disability; mental health.