Early Release of Selected Estimates Based on Data From the 2009 National Health Interview Survey is a large compendium of new data on American health and health care posted last week by the Centers for Disease Control. The report presents 2009 updates of 15 health measures along with prior data from 1997 through 2008 for comparison. Categories cover medical insurance, chronic disease, health risks like smoking and lack of exercise, vaccination and other factors affecting individual health. Some highlights:
Between 2008 and 2009, the percentage of uninsured Americans of all ages rose 14.7 to 15.4 percent. Hispanics in 2009 led non-Hispanic whites and blacks in the the percentage of uninsured (30.7 percent versus 11.1 and 17.0 percent, respectively).
Percentage of people who failed to obtain needed medical care due to cost rose from 4.5 percent in 1997 to 6.9 percent in 2009.
Smoking among U.S. adults generally declined from 1997 to 2009 (24.7 to 20.6 percent).
Percentage of adults who engage in regular leisure-time physical activity ranged from 29.8 percent in 1998 to 34.7 percent in 2009.
Prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among adults rose from 1997 to 2009 (5.1 to 9.0 percent).
PHOTO CREDIT: John Goddard of Sacramento trains at 24 Hour Fitness in this 2008 photo by Renee C. Byer.
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