title: Health of US parents with and without disabilities.
abstract: The health of parents with disabilities is not well understood. Existing research has used small, non-representative samples. The lack of research using national representative data has hindered advocacy and policy-making efforts.
  
  
  
  In the present study, we used nationally-representative data to examine the prevalence rates of chronic physical health conditions among parents with disabilities and compared them to parents without disabilities.
  
  
  
  We analyzed pooled and linked data from the 2007-2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and the corresponding National Health Interview Survey. We conducted logistic regression analyses to examine age-adjusted health differences of US parents with and without disabilities, controlling for covariates. Outcome measures included obesity, arthritis, asthma, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, emphysema, high cholesterol, hypertension, and stroke.
  
  
  
  After controlling for all model covariates and adjusting for age, parents with disabilities had significantly higher odds (aOR ranging from 1.69 to 4.82) of having each of the chronic conditions (P < 0.001). Parents with disabilities also have significant higher odds of having 2 conditions (aOR = 1.63), 3 conditions (aOR = 2.44), and 4 or more conditions (aOR = 5.56).
  
  
  
  Parents with disabilities have significantly poorer health than parents without disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, USA. Electronic address: lhn@brandeis.edu.
authors.forename: Henan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, USA.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Parish
authors.affiliation: Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, USA.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, Dartmouth University, USA.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010290:Parents; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Disability; Health disparities; Parent