Health of Community-Dwelling Adults With Mobility Limitations in the United States: Incidence of Secondary Health Conditions. Part II

Abstract 

Rasch EK, Magder L, Hochberg MC, Magaziner J, Altman BM. Health of community-dwelling adults with mobility limitations in the United States: incidence of secondary health conditions. Part II.

Objective

To compare incident health conditions that occurred over a 2-year period in nationally representative groups of adults with mobility, nonmobility, and no limitations.

Design

Data were collected prospectively from a probability subsample of households that represent the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population.

Setting

Five rounds of household interviews were conducted over 2 years.

Participants

Data were analyzed on the same respondents from the 1996−1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and the 1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement. Respondents were categorized into 3 groups for analysis; those with mobility limitations, nonmobility limitations, and no limitations. The analytic sample included 12,302 MEPS adults (≥18y).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Number, types, and 2-year incidence of self-reported health conditions compared across groups.

Results

The mean number of incident conditions (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) over the 2-year period was greatest in adults with mobility limitations (mean, 4.7; 95% CI, 4.4−4.9) compared with those with nonmobility limitations (mean, 3.9; 95% CI, 3.7−4.2) or no limitations (mean, 2.6; 95% CI, 2.5−2.7). Incident conditions affected most major body systems.

Conclusions

Because secondary conditions are potentially preventable, determining factors that influence their occurrence is an important public health issue requiring specific action.

Key Words: Disabled persons, Mobility limitations, Incidence, Public health, Rehabilitation