Social inequality and disability levels among the Spanish elderly

This paper examines socioeconomic determinants of disability for the Spanish population aged 65 to 89 years, born between 1910 and 1944. To do this, we use microdata from four waves of the National Health Survey of Spain (ENSE): 1997, 2001, 2006 and 2011/12. A continuous indicator of disability based on activities of daily life is constructed which is analyzed by age, birth cohort, educational attainment (socioeconomic status), height (net nutritional status), and incidence of cardiovascular chronic conditions. Results reveal gender differences and a socioeconomic gradient of disability throughout the aging process. The gender gap in favor of men is greater with lower socioeconomic status and disappears within high socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic differences, approximated by level of education, are greater among women under 80 and among men aged 85 to 89 years. A positive association between cardiovascular chronic conditions and disability exists for both men and women and becomes insignificant among the more elderly.