title: The disabling effect of diseases: a study on trends in diseases, activity limitations, and their interrelationships.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data from the Netherlands indicate a recent increase in prevalence of chronic diseases and a stable prevalence of disability, suggesting that diseases have become less disabling. We studied the association between chronic diseases and activity limitations in the Netherlands from 1990 to 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five surveys among noninstitutionalized persons aged 55 to 84 years (n = 54,847) obtained self-reported data on chronic diseases (diabetes, heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, lung disease, joint disease, back problems, and cancer) and activity limitations (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] long-term disability questionnaire or 36-item Short Form Health Survey [SF-36]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence rates of chronic diseases increased over time, whereas prevalence rates of activity limitations were stable (OECD) or slightly decreased (SF-36). Associations between chronic diseases and activity limitations were also stable (OECD) or slightly decreased (SF-36). Surveys varied widely with regard to disease and limitation prevalence rates and the associations between them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hypothesis that diseases became less disabling from 1990 to 2008 was only supported by results based on activity limitation data as assessed with the SF-36. Further research on how diseases and disability are associated over time is needed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Public Health Forecasting, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hoeymans
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Coen H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: van Gool
authors.forename: Dorly J H
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Deeg
authors.forename: Wilma J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Nusselder
authors.forename: Mirjam M Y
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: de Klerk
authors.forename: Martin P J
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: van Boxtel
authors.forename: H Susan J
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Picavet
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
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