The prevalence of functional limitations and disability in older persons in the US: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III.

OBJECTIVE: To provide estimates by sex and age and by sex and race/ethnicity of the proportion of older Americans who have difficulty with functional limitations and daily activities.

SETTING: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) 1988-1994.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional nationally representative survey.

PARTICIPANTS: All persons aged 60 and older who completed a household interview (N = 6,866) during NHANES III (conducted 1988-1994).

MEASUREMENTS: The self-reported physical and functional disability questions from NHANES III included: lower-extremity function, instrumental activities of daily living, basic activities of daily living, needing help with personal and routine daily activities, and use of assistive devices for walking.

RESULTS: Non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American men and women generally reported significantly (P < .01) more disability than did non-Hispanic white men and women. Disability was greater for minority women than for men. For both men and women, the prevalence in disability increased significantly (P < .01) with age for each measure.

CONCLUSIONS: These sex-age and sex-race/ethnicity national estimates of disability indicate that minority women may represent a vulnerable subpopulation.