title: The prevalence of functional limitations and disability in older persons in the US: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) 1988-1994.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional nationally representative survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  All persons aged 60 and older who completed a household interview (N = 6,866) during NHANES III (conducted 1988-1994).
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Examination Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ostchega
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kington
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States