Health and functioning among baby boomers approaching 60.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the health and functioning of the Baby Boom generation are better or worse than those of previous cohorts in middle age.


METHODS
Trend analysis of vital statistics and self-reports from the National Health Interview Survey for the 40-59 population. Specific outcomes (years of data): mortality (1982-2004); poor or fair health (1982-2006); nine conditions (1997-2006); physical functional limitations (1997-2006); and needing help with personal care, routine needs, or either (1997-2006).


RESULTS
In 2005, the mortality rate of 59-year-olds, the leading edge of the Baby Boom, was 31% lower than that of 59-year-olds in 1982 (8.3 vs. 12.1 per 1,000). There was a similar proportional decline in poor/fair health, but the decline reversed in the last decade. From 1997 to 2006, the prevalence of reports of four conditions increased significantly, but this trend may reflect improvements in diagnosis and treatment. Functional limitations and need for help with routine needs were stable, but the need for help with personal care, while quite low, increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Trends varied by indicator, period, and age. It is surprising that, given the socioeconomic, medical, and public health advantages of Baby Boomers throughout their lives, they are not doing considerably better on all counts.
Martin
Linda G
LG
RAND Corporation, 1200 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA 22202, USA. lmartin@rand.org
Freedman
Vicki A
VA
Schoeni
Robert F
RF
Andreski
Patricia M
PM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification*; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011158:Population Growth; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States