Mortality and its association with chronic and infectious diseases in Mexico: A panel data analysis of the elderly

Objective: This study examines the relationship between chronic and infectious diseases on mortality risks under conditions of accelerated aging. The main hypothesis is that individuals who report both types of diseases experience higher mortality risks than those reporting only chronic diseases. Materials and methods: We used a nationally representative sample of 12 128 individuals aged 50 years and over included in the three waves of the Mexican Health and Aging Study. We estimated Cox regression models to assess the combined effect of self-reported chronic and infectious diseases on subsequent mortality. Results: In the period under study there were 2 723 deaths, 22.5% of the baseline sample. Having reported chronic and infectious diseases significantly increases mortality risks compared to having reported only chronic diseases. Conclusion. In a context of socioeconomic inequality and a mixed epidemiological regime it is crucial to understand how diseases combine to generate excess mortality risks among the elderly.