Table 2.
Disease-related variables, utilization of medical care, and limitations in functional abilities by ethnicity*
| Variable | Latino (n = 224) | Non-Latino (n = 2,913) |
|---|---|---|
| Disease-related variables | ||
| Length of illness | ||
| <1 year | 11 (4.4) | 202 (7.0) |
| 1–5 years | 63 (26.9) | 629 (22.1) |
| >5 years | 150 (68.8) | 2,082 (70.9) |
| Number of chronic conditions, mean ± SE | 3.53 ± 0.22 | 3.32 ± 0.05 |
| Medical care utilization | ||
| Last doctor visit for arthritis <6 months ago | ||
| Yes | 146 (65.1) | 1,655 (58.6) |
| No | 75 (34.9) | 1,167 (41.4) |
| Last doctor visit (for any reason) | ||
| <1 year | 214 (97.0) | 2,711 (93.9) |
| 1 to <5 years | 6 (2.6) | 159 (5.4) |
| ≥5 years | 1 (0.4) | 22 (0.7) |
| Number of doctor visits (for any reason) in past 12 months, mean ± SE | 12.36 ± 2.21 | 11.07 ± 0.70 |
| Functional abilities, mean ± SE | ||
| Activities of daily living | 0.13 ± 0.01 | 0.12 ± 0.04 |
| Instrumental activities of daily living | 0.30 ± 0.01 | 0.34 ± 0.07 |
| Functional limitations | 0.56 ± 0.01 | 0.64 ± 0.05 |
*
Values are the number (percentage) unless otherwise indicated.
Percentages are weighted. Latinos do not differ significantly from non-Latino whites in any of the variables shown. Data source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 1994 (22).