Report: “Health characteristics of adults aged 55 years and over: United States, 2004-2007.”

TNational Center for Health Statistics recentlyreleased a report, “Health characteristics of adults aged 55 years andover: United States, 2004-2007.”

This report is based on data from the 2004 through 2007 Sample Adultcomponent of the annual National Health Interview Survey.  Ithighlights selected health characteristics for four age groups of olderadults: 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, and 85 years and older. Data on assessedhealth status, selected chronic conditions, physical and socialfunctional limitations, utilization of health services, and personalhealth behaviors including cigarette smoking, leisure-time physicalactivity, body weight status, and hours of sleep are presented  foreach of these age groups by sex, race and Hispanic origin, povertystatus, health insurance status, and marital status.

The report concluded that prevalence rates for fair or poor healthstatus increased with advancing age; and that poor adults with Medicaidcoverage were the most disadvantaged in terms of health status.  Thereport also found that health disparities exist across subgroups ofolder adults and vary by age.  To review the entire report please go to

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr016.pdf