Research PaperTrends in disability and related chronic conditions among the forty-and-over population: 1997–2010
Section snippets
Data
We used data for people ages 40 and older from the 1997–2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which is a nationally representative annual survey of the non-institutionalized population of the United States. The family core questionnaire of the survey ascertains information on all members of the sample household about need for help with routine needs and personal care, as well as demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. An additional interview of a sample adult from each sample
Results
Fig. 1 shows the unadjusted trends in limitations from 1997 to 2010 for the 40–64 group. Over a third of this younger population reported difficulty with at least one of the nine physical functional limitations. The most difficult physical functions were stooping, standing, pushing, and walking—all functions involving mobility (not shown). After the physical functions, the 40–64 group had the most trouble with the sensory functions of hearing and vision. Needing help with IADLs and ADLs have
Discussion
People ages 40–64 years are increasingly reporting difficulty with physical functions and need for help with IADLs and ADLs. The recent increase in ADL limitation in this younger population has previously been highlighted by Martin, Freedman, and colleagues (using NHIS data for ages 50–64 from 1997 to 2007)5 and by Martin, Schoeni, and Andreski (using NHIS data for ages 40–64 from 1997 to 2008).6 The increase in need for help with ADLs for females ages 40–64 is especially large. The significant
Conclusion
The continued increase in limitations among the 40–64-year-old population through 2010 is troubling, especially since its members represent the future older population. However, the rates of ADL and IADL disability for this younger population remain quite low, affecting fewer than 4%, and it remains to be seen the extent to which these trends reflect increased survival with early-onset disability. For physical function and IADL limitation, the rise in limitations is associated with the rise in
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Support for development of this paper was provided by the National Institute on Aging grant no. P30 AG012846 to the University of Michigan and P30 AG034464 to Syracuse University.
Prior presentation: A similar version of this paper was presented orally at the meeting titled, “Aging with disability: Demographic, social, and policy considerations,” organized by the Interagency Committee on Disability Research in Washington, D.C. on May 17–18, 2012.