Table 2.
Characteristics of Population by Level of Mobility Difficulty
| Level of Mobility Difficulty | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | None | Minor | Moderate | Major |
| Mean age y, (SD) | 42.1 (19.3) | 59.4 (11.8) | 60.5 (12.3) | 66.6 (9.7) |
| Median age, y | 38.9 | 61.6 | 62.0 | 68.8 |
| Age at onset*, % | ||||
| ≤60 y | — | 63.0 | 63.9 | 48.9 |
| ≤50 y | — | 46.4 | 46.3 | 31.7 |
| ≤40 y | — | 31.8 | 29.4 | 18.7 |
| ≤30 y | — | 17.9 | 15.6 | 10.2 |
| Women with given extent of problem†, % | 88.2 | 4.9 | 3.3 | 3.6 |
| Men with given extent of problem†, % | 91.2 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 2.7 |
| Whites with given extent of problem‡, % | 90.0 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 3.1 |
| Blacks with given extent of problem‡, % | 85.0 | 6.1 | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| Hispanics with given extent of problem,‡, % | 89.1 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 3.4 |
| With high school education or less‡, % | 17.2 | 29.6 | 36.5 | 34.1 |
| Living alone‡, % | 13.8 | 19.4 | 19.0 | 17.0 |
| With household income below poverty level‡, % | 8.7 | 21.2 | 26.0 | 26.5 |
| Unable to work due to health problems (persons <65 years of age)‡, % | 3.0 | 31.6 | 56.2 | 70.5 |
| Currently employed or attending school (persons <65 years of age)‡, % | 78.3 | 52.9 | 38.0 | 27.5 |
| Uses cane, crutches, or walker§, % | NA | 20.0 | 26.5 | 48.0 |
| Uses manual or powered wheelchair or scooter§, % | NA | NA | NA | 26.0 |
Asked only of respondents reporting mobility difficulties; users of mobility aids were not asked when they started using it. Percentages are cumulative not mutually exclusive. NA indicates not appplicable.
Adjusted for age category: 18–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79, 80–84, and 85+.
Adjusted for age category and gender.
Of the persons with minor difficulties, 10.1% were assigned only because of using a cane or crutches; of the persons with moderate difficulties, 3.4% were assigned only because of using a walker; and of the persons with major difficulties, 4.3% were assigned only because of using a manual or powered wheelchair or scooter.