Recent changes in the health status of the older US population: Findings from the 1984 and 1994 Supplement on Aging

OBJECTIVES: To examine the changes in the use of health care services, phys ical functioning, disability, and other aspects of health status in the old er U.S. population between 1984 and 1994. DESIGN AND SETTING: The 1984 and 1994 National Health Interview Survey Supp lements on Aging, which were national probability samples of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population age 70 and older. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 7,541 and 9,447 persons, representing the 17.3 mil lion and 21.8 million U.S. population age 70 and older in 1984 and 1994, re spectively. MEASUREMENTS: Annual bed-limitation days, doctor visits, episodes and days of hospital stays, limitation in 10 measures of physical performance, disab ility in seven activities of daily living (ADLs) and six instrumental activ ities of daily living (IADLs), and participation in social activities and e xercise. RESULTS: The annual bed-limitation days and hospital stays declined signifi cantly in both men and women between 1984 and 1994. There was a large decre ase in the prevalence of limitation in physical performance and a smaller d ecrease in disability of IADLs. The changes were greater in women than in m en. The prevalence of disability in ADLs was not changed in women in genera l and increased Somewhat in men. Significant increases in the proportion of persons participating in certain social activities and regular exercise we re found in both men and women. Jointly considering the indicators, includi ng annual bed days and hospital stays, physical performance, ADLs, and IADL s, 4.2% more men and 3.1% more women were physically robust in 1994 than in 1984. Approximately 420,000 more older people would have lived in a severe ly restricted and disabled state in 1994 if the rate of limitation had not declined. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of an overall improvement in the h ealth status of older Americans but inconsistency in the trends existed for different disability measures and for population subgroups.