Objective: To describe the health conditions and functional status of Mexicans older adults.
Materials and methods: Descriptive study with a sample of 8,874 adults aged 60 and over, based on a nationally representative study. We analyzed major indicators associated with health conditions and functional status, obtaining prevalence and statistical tests of differences in proportions.
Results: The main conditions of this population are: hypertension (40%), diabetes (24%) and hypercholesterolemia (20%). For mental health indicators, 17.6% had depressive symptoms, 7.3% cognitive decline, and 7.9% dementia. For functional status, 26.9% reported difficulty in daily activities and 24.6% in instrumental activities.
Conclusions: It is required the implementation of a new model of care to address the increasing prevalence of chronic degenerative diseases in old age, as well as the increased disability and consequent dependence resulting from them.