Social Inequalities in Inflammation: Age Variations in Older Persons. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mitchell, Uchechi A.; Aneshensel, Carol S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of aging and health. Volume 29:Number 5(2017:Aug.)
• Page Start: 769
• Page End: 787
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: inflammation -- health disparities -- race/ethnicity -- gender -- education; Older people -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1177/0898264316645546
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0898-2643

Abstract

Objective: Systemic inflammation is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and inequalities by race/ethnicity, gender, and education have been documented. However, there is incomplete knowledge as to how these disparities present across age, especially in late life. This study assesses whether differences in C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, are contingent on age among older persons.Method: Data are from the 2006/2008 Health and Retirement Study ( n = 10, 974) biomarker assessment. CRP was regressed on interactions between age and other status characteristics.Results: Racial/ethnic differences in inflammation do not vary significantly by age. However, gender and education differences are greatest at younger ages and then narrow steadily with increasing age.Discussion: There is considerable heterogeneity in how disparities in inflammation present across age and characteristics such as race/ethnicity, gender, and education. Understanding status differences in the influence of age on factors affecting late-life health is useful for health disparities research.