QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Percentage* of Adults Aged ≥65 Years,† by Number of 10 Selected Diagnosed Chronic Conditions§and Poverty Status — National Health Interview Survey, 2013–2015

Weekly / February 24, 2017 / 66(7);197

* With error bars indicating 95% confidence intervals.

† Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the noninstitutionalized U.S. civilian population and are derived from the National Health Interview Survey Sample Adult component. Percentages were age- adjusted to the projected 2000 U.S. population as the standard population, using three age groups: 65–74, 75–84, and ≥85 years.

§ Respondents were asked about the following 10 selected chronic conditions: hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, hepatitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), weak or failing kidneys during the past 12 months, and current asthma. COPD was defined as ever having COPD or emphysema or having chronic bronchitis during the past 12 months. Unless a time frame was noted, chronic conditions were based on the respondents reporting ever being told by a doctor or other health professional that they had the condition.

¶ Poverty status is based on family income and family size using the U.S. Census Bureau poverty thresholds. Family income was imputed where missing.

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For the period 2013–2015, 13% of adults aged ≥65 years reported having none of 10 selected diagnosed chronic conditions; 25% had one, 46% had two or three, and 16% had four or more of the conditions. No differences by poverty status were observed among those who reported having two or three conditions, but those in the lowest income group (<100% of the poverty threshold) were less likely to have none or only one of the chronic conditions compared with those in the highest income group (≥400% of the poverty threshold). Those in the lowest income group also were more likely to have four or more conditions when compared with those in the highest income group (21% compared with 12%).
Source: National Health Interview Survey, 2013–2015. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.

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Reported by: Ellen A. Kramarow, PhD, ekramarow@cdc.gov, 301-458-4325; Yelena Gorina, MPH, MS.

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Suggested citation for this article: QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Percentage of Adults Aged ≥65 Years, by Number of 10 Selected Diagnosed Chronic Conditions and Poverty Status — National Health Interview Survey, 2013–2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:197. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6607a6 .