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Mobility difficulties are not only a problem of old age
L I Iezzoni1, E P McCarthy, R B Davis
1Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA. liezzoni@caregroup.harvard.edu
Journal of General Internal Medicine
|April 25, 2001
Summary
Mobility difficulties affect 10.1% of US adults, particularly women and African Americans. These issues are linked to poorer health, daily activity limitations, and increased depression and anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Lower extremity mobility limitations are prevalent and impact physical and emotional health.
- Common medical conditions frequently lead to mobility challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the national prevalence of mobility difficulties in noninstitutionalized adults.
- To investigate associations between mobility issues and demographic factors, and other health problems.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a cross-sectional survey design with the 1994-1995 National Health Interview Survey-Disability Supplement (NHIS-D).
- Defined mobility difficulties based on walking, stair climbing, standing ability, and use of mobility aids.
- Employed direct standardization for age and gender adjustments using SUDAAN for nationally representative estimates.
Main Results:
- Approximately 19 million (10.1%) adults reported mobility difficulties.
- Higher prevalence observed in women (11.8%) and African Americans (15.0%) compared to men (8.8%) and whites (10.0%).
- Mobility difficulties correlated with lower education, living alone, poverty, obesity, impaired daily activities, and significantly higher rates of depression/anxiety (30.6% vs. 3.8%).
Conclusions:
- Mobility difficulties are common across adult age groups, including middle-aged individuals.
- Associations with functional limitations, mental health issues, and socioeconomic factors underscore the need for integrated care approaches.
- Findings highlight the significant public health burden of lower extremity mobility impairments.