Racial Crossovers in Morbidity and Mortality of U.S. Birth Cohorts

Samir Soneji, Princeton University

Disability and mortality disparities by sex and race are a source of inequality among the elderly. Differential changes in disability life expectancy and total life expectancy over time are a public health concern. I address the previously unanswered question of whether some race/sex groups of actual birth cohorts live longer healthy lives as well as longer lives when compared with others. I study disparities in the expected remaining life in mild and severe disability by race and sex in cohorts born between 1904 and 1909. To estimate the quantities, I employ a refined definition of physical disability and apply a new extension of Sullivan's method to actual birth cohorts. Results suggest black women are the most disadvantaged group. The most striking finding is concordant compression of severe disability among all race/sex groups. Decreases in the expected remaining life in severe disability are associated with constant life expectancy over time.