TABLE 2—

Rates of Symptoms and Impairments and Behavioral Risk Factors Over Time: United States, 1987–2008

	1987 (NMES/NHIS), %	1994–1995 (NHIS), %	2000 (MEPS), %	2008 (MEPS), %	Percentage Point Change	Pa
Age 25–64 y
Primary activity
Major activity	6.6	7.3	5.7	6.3	−0.3	<.001
Social activity	…		3.4	3.5	0.1	.387
Physical activity
Self-care	0.6	0.4	0.7	0.7	0.1	.084
Routine needs	1.7	1.9	1.6	1.7	0	.003
Walkingb	4.9	5.1	5.4	6.2	1.3	.001
Bendingc	…	5.1	5.3	6.2	1.1	.001
Lifting	…	4.0	3.8	4.0	0	.056
Standing	…	4.5	5.0	5.3	0.8	.009
Reaching	…	2.2	3.3	3.8	1.6	<.001
Dexterity	…	2.2	2.2	2.3	0.1	.785
Mental health
Depressed mood	29.8	…	29.2	25.0	−4.8	<.001
Anxiety	34.3	…	27.3	39.6	5.2	<.001
Sensory
Vision	9.7	…	4.2	4.8	−4.9	<.001
Hearing	5.8	…	3.6	4.5	−1.3	<.001
Pain	…	…	41.5	42.1	0.6	.691
Cognitive	…	…	2.4	3.1	0.7	.238
Low energy	…	…	54.9	43.9	−11.0	.501
Behavioral risk factors
Current smoker	32.7	29.0	26.9	26.0	−6.7	<.001
Obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2)	23.5	26.7	32.6	36.4	12.9	<.001
Age ≥ 65 y
Primary activity
Major activity	28.3	28.1	22.6	22.5	−5.8	.237
Social activity	…	…	11.3	11.1	−0.1	.938
Physical activity
Self-care	9.7	10.9	10.1	8.6	−1.1	.233
Routine needs	15.8	17.0	14.6	13.6	−2.2	.001
Walkingb	33.1	30.1	29.1	29.3	−3.8	.606
Bendingc	…	22.2	26.3	26.6	4.4	.001
Lifting	…	19.8	22.1	21.0	1.2	.002
Standing	…	22.8	26.5	25.6	2.8	.002
Reaching	…	10.7	19.7	18.0	7.2	<.001
Dexterity	…	9.0	13.1	11.6	2.6	.961
Mental health
Depressed mood	34.8	…	30.7	23.5	−6.7	<.001
Anxiety	36.6	…	25.6	28.2	−12.7	<.001
Sensory
Vision	28.3	…	11.8	10.8	−17.5	<.001
Hearing	21.7	…	20.5	20.1	−1.6	.563
Pain	…	…	67.1	64.7	−2.4	.042
Cognitive	…	…	7.5	9.4	1.9	.032
Low energy	…	…	69.6	54.2	−15.4	.007
Behavioral risk factors
Current smoker	12.8	10.4	10.1	8.2	−4.6	<.001
Obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2)	20.2	24.3	30.1	32.7	12.5	<.001

Note. BMI = body mass index (defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters); MEPS = Medical Expenditure Panel Survey; NHIS = National Health Interview Survey; NMES = National Medical Expenditure Survey. Rates of all impairments, symptoms, and behavioral risk factors are shown adjusted to the 2000 population distribution by 10-year age groups. These are predicted rates from regression models using 10-year age categories, gender, race (Black or White), gender × race, and smoking and BMI categories. Analyses in MEPS (2000–2008) were in pooled data with dummy variables for survey year, interacted with age. Excluded were those of “other” race (not White or Black), those with a BMI less than 18.5, and those with incomplete data on smoking and BMI. In NHIS, where a large portion of the samples (51% in 1987, 74% in 1994–1995) were missing smoking status because of only 1 adult per household being asked about it in a supplement (in all households in 1987 and half of households in 1994–1995), we included a dummy variable for missing on smoking in the regressions to avoid losing data on these individuals. P values are for a variable with levels representing years from the time when the symptom or impairment was first measured. We estimated risk factor rates from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.

^aWe tested significance of changes in the noninstitutionalized population by using logistic regressions, controlling for 10-year age group, gender, race, gender × race, and BMI–smoking category.

^bWalking rates excluding difficulty walking a mile. Rates including walking a mile for age 25–64 years were 6.0% in 2000 and 6.8% in 2008 (P = .001). For age ≥ 65 years, rates including 1 mile were 30.9% and 31.5% (P = .641).

^cBending and lifting were asked as part of a combined question in 1987, and rates of these limitations combined were 13% for the nonelderly and 47% for age ≥ 65 years. Decline for bending and lifting combined from 1987 to 2008, was significant (P <.001) for both ages 25–64 years and ≥ 65 years.