Overview: surveillance for selected public health indicators affecting older adults--United States.

The United Nations has proclaimed October 1, 1998, through December 31, 1999, as the International Year of Older Persons (IYOP). Federal agencies are working together to sponsor IYOP activities in the United States. To commemorate the goals of IYOP, CDC has published these surveillance summaries to describe important health issues and to highlight the role of public health surveillance for older adults aged > or =65 years in the United States. Although older adults are the focus of these surveillance summaries, persons aged 55-64 years have also been included, when data were available, as a comparison group.

Surveillance for use of preventive health-care services by older adults, 1995-1997.

PROBLEM/CONDITION: In 1995, a total of 55 million persons aged > or =55 years lived in the United States. The members of this large and growing segment of the population are major consumers of health care. Their access to medical and dental preventive services contributes to their likelihood of healthy later years and influences their long-term impact on the health-care delivery system. REPORTING PERIOD: 1995-1997. DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEMS: This report summarizes data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the state-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), and the Medicare Current Beneficiary Study (MCBS) to describe national, regional, and state-specific patterns of access to and use of preventive services among persons aged > or =55 years. RESULTS: During 1995-1997, approximately 90% of persons aged > or =55 years living in the United States reported having a regular source of health-care services. However, only 75%-80% reported receiving a routine checkup during the preceding 2 years. The estimated percentage of persons who reported not being able to receive medical care because of cost was highest for those aged 55-64 years. Within this age group, the percentage was highest among Hispanics (4%) and persons without a high school diploma. Approximately 11% of Medicare beneficiaries reported delaying care be cause of cost or because they had no particular source of care. Percentage estimates varied according to age, race/ethnicity, and sociodemographic status. Approximately 95% of persons aged > or =55 years reported having their blood pressure checked during the preceding 2 years, but only 85%-88% had received a cholesterol evaluation during the preceding 5 years. The percentage of women receiving breast and cervical cancer screening decreased with increasing age, and the percentage of persons aged > or =55 years who had received some form of screening for colorectal cancer was low approximately 25% for fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) and 45% for endoscopy. State-specific rates of compliance with vaccination recommendations among persons aged > or =65 years were higher for influenza vaccine (range: 54%-74%) than for pneumococcal vaccine (range: 32%-59%), and compliance increased with advancing age. State-specific estimates of the percentage of annual dental visits varied 40%-75%, and 41%-88% of persons aged > or =65 years reported not having dental insurance. INTERPRETATION: Access to medical services among adults living in the United States is greater for persons aged > or =65 years, compared with those aged <65 years, presumably because of Medicare coverage. In contrast, use of dental services decreased, despite increased need for preventive and restorative dental care. Although Medicare covers many medical services for older adults, financial, personal, and physical barriers to both medical and dental care create racial, regional, and sociodemographic disparities in health status and use of health services in the United States. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION: Continued surveillance of access to and use of health services among older adults (i.e., persons aged > or =65 years), as well as among persons aged 55-64 years, will help health-care providers target underserved groups, make Medicare coverage decisions, and develop public health programs to ensure equitable access to services and improve the health of older adults.

Surveillance for five health risks among older adults--United States, 1993-1997.

PROBLEM/CONDITION: Overweight, drinking and driving, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, physical inactivity, and smoking are associated with the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among older adults (i.e., persons aged > or =65 years) in the United States. REPORTING PERIOD: This report presents data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 1994-1997 and from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for 1993-1995. DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEMS: BRFSS and NHIS are maintained by CDC and have been used for surveillance purposes. Each survey is administered annually and includes questions about health risks and health behaviors from a representative sample of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population. The NHIS is designed to provide national estimates and the BRFSS, state estimates. RESULTS: Prevalences of overweight, drinking and driving, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, and smoking decreased with increasing age among older adults in the United States; physical inactivity was the only health risk that increased with increasing age. Sex and race were differentially associated with all five health risks. INTERPRETATION: Specific subgroups of older adults are at risk for being overweight, drinking and driving, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, physical inactivity, and smoking. These health risks varied by age, race, residential state, and socioeconomic status and highlight the heterogeneous nature of older adults. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION: Surveillance for health risks among older adults provides information to help identify effective interventions for the growing population of older adults in the United States.