Section 8 Health
(8 tables in this section)This section presents statistics on health, especially the health of people with disabilities.
Specifically, the data address the prevalence of disabilities, health behaviors (such as smoking) by disability status, vaccination, and insurance. The principal source of this data is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, specifically the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, produced by the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities—Disability and Health Team.
Table 8.1 - Persons 18 and Over Living in the Community, by Disability Status: 2010
According to data from the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), in 2010, there were 234,788,855 individuals aged 18 and over living in the community, 53,273,399 of which were individuals with disabilities—a prevalence rate of 22.7 percent. The state with the largest number of individuals with disabilities was California, with 5,594,904 individuals with disabilities, while the state with the smallest number of individuals with disabilities was Virgin Islands, with 9,376 individuals with disabilities. West Virginia had the highest prevalence rate, 30.4 percent, while the Virgin Islands had the lowest prevalence rate, 12.9 percent.
Table 8.2 - Persons 18 and Over Who Experience Disability, by Age: 2010
In 2010, the prevalence of disability increased with age in all states. The state with the highest prevalence rate for individuals aged 18-44 years was West Virginia (18.6 percent), while the lowest was in District of Columbia (9.7 percent). For individuals aged 45-64 years, the highest prevalence rate was in Kentucky (36.2 percent), while the lowest was in Minnesota (21.0 percent). For individuals aged 65 years and older, the highest prevalence rate was in Alaska (46.5 percent), while the lowest was again in Hawaii (30.2 percent).
Table 8.3 - Health Behavior—Smoking among Persons Aged 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2010
In 2010, adults (aged 18 years and older) with disabilities where more likely to smoke (23.0 percent) than adults without disabilities (15.4 percent). This finding was observed in all states. Adults with disabilities were most likely to smoke in West Virginia (32.6 percent) and least likely to smoke in Utah (11.3 percent).
Table 8.4 - Health Behavior—Obesity among Persons Aged 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2010
In 2010, adults (aged 18 years and older) with disabilities were more likely to be obese (38.2 percent) than adults without disabilities (24.0 percent). This finding was observed in all states. Adults with disabilities were most likely to be obese in Mississippi (43.9 percent) and least likely to be obese in Nevada (30.0 percent).
Table 8.5 - Health Behavior—Binge Drinking among Persons Aged 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2010
In 2010, adults (aged 18 years and older) with disabilities were less likely to binge drink (10.2 percent) than adults without disabilities (16.2 percent). This finding was observed in all states, except the Virgin Islands (binge drinking rate was 0.3 percent higher for adults with disabilities). Adults with disabilities were most likely to binge drink in Delaware (15.8 percent) and least likely to binge drink in Tennessee (3.3 percent).
Table 8.6 - Immunization—Influenza Vaccination (Current) among Persons Aged 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2010
In 2010, adults (aged 18 years and older) with disabilities were more likely to be have been vaccinated for influenza (43.9 percent) than adults without disabilities (33.4 percent). This finding was observed in all states. Adults with disabilities were most likely to have been vaccinated in South Dakota (58.0 percent) and least likely to have been vaccinated in Nevada (35.0 percent).
Table 8.7 - Health Care Coverage—Among Persons Aged 18 and Over, by Disability Status: 2010
In 2010, individuals aged 18 and over with disabilities in Massachusetts were most likely to have health insurance coverage (96.7 percent), while individuals aged 18 and over with disabilities in Texas were least likely to have health insurance coverage (79.5 percent).
Table 8.8 - Change in the Percentage of the Total Population with a Disability, 18 and Over Living in the Community: 2009 to 2010
From 2009 to 2010, the percentage of the total population with a disability (i.e., the number of people with disabilities divided by the total population) in the U.S. grew by 2.0 percentage points. It grew the most in Oregon (by 5.6 percentage points) and decreased the most in Alaska (by 0.7 percentage points).
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS)—The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a state-based system of health surveys that collects information on health risk behaviors, preventive health practices, and health care access primarily related to chronic disease and injury. BRFSS was established in 1984 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); currently data are collected monthly in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. More than 350,000 adults are interviewed each year, making the BRFS the largest telephone health survey in the world. States use BRFSS data to identify emerging health problems, establish and track health objectives, and develop and evaluate public health policies and programs. Many states also use BRFSS data to support health-related legislative efforts.
Binge Drinking (BRFSS)—Consuming enough alcohol to raise an individual’s BAC (blood alcohol concentration) to 0.08 grams percent or above in the last 30 days. For men, this means consuming approximately 5 drinks; for women this means consuming approximately 4 drinks. One drink is defined as one beer or one shot of alcohol.
Disability Status (BRFSS)—An individual is classified as having a disability based on answers to the following questions: (1) Are you limited in any way in any activities because of physical, mental, or emotional problems? and (2) Do you now have any health problem that requires you to use special equipment, such as a cane, a wheelchair, a special bed, or a special telephone? (Include occasional use or use in certain circumstances).
Influenza Vaccination (BRFSS)—A flu vaccine injected or administered into the body. Individuals were categorized based on answers to the following questions: (1) A flu shot is an influenza vaccine injected into your arm. Have you had a flu shot? and (2) Have you had a flu vaccine that was sprayed in your nose? The flu vaccine sprayed in the nose is also called FluMist™.
Obese (BRFSS)—The condition where a person has a body mass index greater than 25.00 (Overweight or Obese).