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Wheelchairs Built Strong To Last Long
DISABILITY IS INCREASING
Number of U. S. Adults Reporting a Disability is Increasing
47.5 million US adults report a disability; more than one-third are aging “baby boomers.”
A new CDC study shows that 47.5 million US adults (21.8%) reported a disability [1] in 2005, an increase of
3.4 million from 1999. Arthritis or rheumatism continues to be the most common cause of disability, while
back or spine problems and heart trouble round out the top three causes. The number of people identifying
the top two musculoskeletal conditions as the cause of their disability is increasing, but the number of people
identifying heart disease as the cause of their disability is decreasing.
Among adults reporting a disability, the most commonly identi ed limitations were dif culty walking 3 city blocks
(22.5 million, 10.3%) and climbing a  ight of stairs (21.7 million, 10.0%). That means that 1 in 10 adults report-
ing a disability have trouble walking a distance equal to walking from the parking lot to the back of a large store
or through a mall. The number of people reporting a disability increases with age, and women have a higher
prevalence of disability than men at all ages. There are approximately as many “baby boomers” (ages 45–64;
17.3 million) affected now as older adults (age 65+, 18.1 million). Given the size of the baby-boom generation, the
number of adults with disability is likely to increase dramatically as the baby boomers enter into higher risk age
groups over the next 20 years.
Increasing physical activity, and reducing or preventing obesity and tobacco use can eliminate some of the
underlying causes of disability for some people and prevent secondary conditions in those already affected.
[1] NOTE: Disability was de ned as a “yes” response to at least one of the following limitation categories: 1) use of an assistive aid (cane, crutches,
walker, or wheelchair), 2) dif culty performing activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), or speci ed functional
activities, 3) one or more selected impairments, or 4) limitation in the ability to work around the house or at a job or busine ss.
Excerpts from www.cdc.gov/Features/disabilitycauses/ (Accessed January 3, 2011)
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.01.0 3.0 5.0 7. 0 9.0
Arthritis or rheumatism
Back or spine problems
Heart trouble
Mental or emotional problem
Lung or respiratory problem
Diabetes
Deafness or hearing problem
Stiffness or deformity
of limbs/extremities
Blindness or vision problem
Stroke
Top 10 Causes of Disability
Number (in millions) of 47.5 million US adults with disability
8.6
7.6
3.0
2.2
2.2
2.0
1.9
1.6
1.5
1.1
U.S. Census Bureau,
2004 Survey of Income
and Program Participation,
Wave 5, June-November 2005.