Disability Affects Three Out of Every 10 U.S. Adults
By Kristina Fiore
HYATTSVILLE, Md., July 25 -- Nearly 30% of the noninstitutionalized adult U.S. population -- about 62 million people -- have some disability that affects daily activity.
More than 20% of the population reported difficulties walking, bending, reaching overhead, or using their fingers to grasp something, Barbara M. Altman, Ph.D., formerly of the CDC, and colleagues wrote in a National Center for Health Statistics report this week.
"What we have is a large segment of the population who have problems, and they're not all being taken care of," Dr. Altman said.
About two-thirds of these disabled Americans are younger than 65, Dr. Altman said.
"You see so much about the aging population, but you don't see as many numbers about the population from ages 18 to 64," she said. "However there's a larger number of people with disabilities under 65."
Dr. Altman said disability among those younger than 65 was likely related to problems associated with obesity -- such as diabetes and arthritis -- and heart disease, which may also be associated with obesity.
"It's what we see after age 65, but it's the beginning of it and we don't pay as much attention when people are younger," she said. "But that's the point in time to take preventive measures."
The findings emerged from an analysis of data collected by the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which canvassed 157,976 adults from 2001-2005 via the Sample Adult Core Questionnaire.
Other significant disabilities involved vision and hearing, with more than 13% of those surveyed reporting difficulties. Emotional or cognitive difficulties were less prevalent, with only 3% of the population reporting each difficulty.
Problems with more complex activities like working, participating in social activities, or being able to manage self-care were reported by 14% of the population.
Work complications were the biggest problem, reported by 12% of those surveyed; just 4% reported difficulties with self-care.
Other survey findings included:
Over half of noninstitutionalized adults with self-care limitations were ages 65 and older; about half of adults with emotional difficulties were under 45 years old.
Adults without disabilities were more than twice as likely to have a college degree as adults who had trouble with complex activities and 70% more likely to have a college degree than those with basic actions difficulty.
Almost one-third of adults with complex activity limitation and 30% of those with basic actions difficulty were obese, compared with 19% of adults with no reported disability.
About 40% of adults ages 18 to 44 with either complex or basic activity limitation reported being smokers, compared with 22% of nondisabled adults in the same age group.
Dr. Altman said the rate of smoking in the 18- to 44-year-old age group with disabilities was particularly concerning because it "furthers their risk for other health problems."
Primary source: National Center for Health StatisticsSource reference:Altman B, et al "Disability and health in the United States, 2001 -- 2005" National Center for Health Statistics 2008.
More than 20% of the population reported difficulties walking, bending, reaching overhead, or using their fingers to grasp something, Barbara M. Altman, Ph.D., formerly of the CDC, and colleagues wrote in a National Center for Health Statistics report this week.
"What we have is a large segment of the population who have problems, and they're not all being taken care of," Dr. Altman said.
About two-thirds of these disabled Americans are younger than 65, Dr. Altman said.
"You see so much about the aging population, but you don't see as many numbers about the population from ages 18 to 64," she said. "However there's a larger number of people with disabilities under 65."
Dr. Altman said disability among those younger than 65 was likely related to problems associated with obesity -- such as diabetes and arthritis -- and heart disease, which may also be associated with obesity.
"It's what we see after age 65, but it's the beginning of it and we don't pay as much attention when people are younger," she said. "But that's the point in time to take preventive measures."
The findings emerged from an analysis of data collected by the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which canvassed 157,976 adults from 2001-2005 via the Sample Adult Core Questionnaire.
Other significant disabilities involved vision and hearing, with more than 13% of those surveyed reporting difficulties. Emotional or cognitive difficulties were less prevalent, with only 3% of the population reporting each difficulty.
Problems with more complex activities like working, participating in social activities, or being able to manage self-care were reported by 14% of the population.
Work complications were the biggest problem, reported by 12% of those surveyed; just 4% reported difficulties with self-care.
Other survey findings included:
Over half of noninstitutionalized adults with self-care limitations were ages 65 and older; about half of adults with emotional difficulties were under 45 years old.
Adults without disabilities were more than twice as likely to have a college degree as adults who had trouble with complex activities and 70% more likely to have a college degree than those with basic actions difficulty.
Almost one-third of adults with complex activity limitation and 30% of those with basic actions difficulty were obese, compared with 19% of adults with no reported disability.
About 40% of adults ages 18 to 44 with either complex or basic activity limitation reported being smokers, compared with 22% of nondisabled adults in the same age group.
Dr. Altman said the rate of smoking in the 18- to 44-year-old age group with disabilities was particularly concerning because it "furthers their risk for other health problems."
Primary source: National Center for Health StatisticsSource reference:Altman B, et al "Disability and health in the United States, 2001 -- 2005" National Center for Health Statistics 2008.
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