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Predictors And Mediators Of Long-Term Functional Limitations In The Older Adult Population, Teresa Maria Bell

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

With nearly 40 million Americans being treated for nonfatal injuries in emergency departments annually, the burden of nonfatal injury in the United States is extensive. The longterm functional consequences of these injuries can be enduring and far-reaching, especially for older adults. Although studies have reported that persistent functional deficits exist after injury, less information is known about long-term recovery patterns and the factors that influence functional outcomes.

The primary aims of this study are to (1) classify differences in long-term, longitudinal changes in functional limitations within the injured population, (2) identify individual characteristics that predict recovery after injury and (3) …

Racial Disparities In Adherence To Cardiovascular Medications Among The Elderly In Medicare: Three Empirical Essays, Mustafa Hussein Muhammad Hussein

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This dissertation sought to explore the relatively understudied area of racial disparities in adherence to cardiovascular medication regimens among the elderly. Black and Hispanic seniors are well documented to have lower rates of adherence to their prescribed cardiovascular medications, relative to their white counterparts. This disproportionately lower adherence places these minority groups at higher risk for worse cardiovascular prognosis and premature cardiovascular death. The Medicare Program, which covers healthcare predominantly for elderly Americans, offers an interesting laboratory to study these disparities and their response to policy changes. Using nationally representative data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey on white, black, …