Excess physical limitations among adults with diabetes in the U.S. population, 1997-1999.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of physical limitations associated with diabetes among U.S. adults > or =18 years of age.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the association between diabetes status and physical limitations using the 1997-1999 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Physical limitation was defined from self-reported degree of difficulty with nine tasks.


RESULTS
People with diabetes had a higher proportion of any physical limitation than did people without diabetes overall (66 vs. 29%, P < 0.001), for both men (59 vs. 24%, P < 0.001) and women (72 vs. 34%, P < 0.001). Compared with those without diabetes, a higher proportion of people with diabetes had some physical limitation among all age groups, and the difference declined (all P < 0.001) with increasing age (46 vs. 18% for 18-44 years, 63 vs. 35% for 45-64 years, 74 vs. 53% for 65-74 years, and 85 vs. 70% for those 75 years and older). After controlling for demographic characteristics and several other confounders, the odds ratio of physical limitation among adults with diabetes versus those without diabetes was 1.9 (95% CI: 1.8-2.1).


CONCLUSIONS
People with diabetes are much more likely to have a physical limitation than those without diabetes. Interventions are needed in this population to reduce progression from impairment to physical limitation and from physical limitation to disability, especially because the prevalence of diabetes is projected to increase dramatically in the next several decades.
Ryerson
Blythe
B
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Diabetes Translation, Atlanta, Georgia.
Tierney
Edward F
EF
Thompson
Theodore J
TJ
Engelgau
Michael M
MM
Wang
Jing
J
Gregg
Edward W
EW
Geiss
Linda S
LS
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology