Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108H EALT H 22 health. Conversely, the proportion reporting that they are in fair or poor health increases steadily from 21 percent among people ages 55 to 64 to 43 percent among those age 85 and older. Gender differences in self-reported health status are small, while differences by race/ethnicity are large. Men are slightly more likely than women to report excellent or very good health (43 percent compared with 41 percent). Only about 25 percent of Black and Hispanic respondents, compared with 45 percent of White respondents, report being in excellent or very good health (Figure 1-2). Additionally, about 42 percent of Black and Hispanic participants, compared with 24 percent of White respondents, report their health to be fair or poor. Most studies find that some, but not all of the racial and ethnic disparities in health can be attributed to differences in socioeconomic factors such as education, income, and wealth that are related to health and differ by race and ethnicity. One study found that socioeconomic factors explained only a relatively small part of the racial difference in the prevalence of chronic conditions, but that the racial disparity in physical function- ing could be almost completely explained by a combination of socioeconomic status differences and the racial differences in chronic conditions (Kington and Smith 1997). Advancing age is associated with an increasing prevalence of a number of diseases and other health problems. The HRS is uniquely poised to describe these problems in terms of their effects on the everyday function of older people. Figure 1-3 presents the prevalence of selected health problems reported within different age groups. Arthritis and hypertension are the most common conditions, at all ages, followed by heart problems. The likelihood of having (or having had) most problems increases steadily with age, although diabetes, hypertension, and chronic lung disease appear to be somewhat less common above age 85. Gender differences with regard to health condi- tions are generally small. The most notable difference pertains to arthritis. Nearly two-thirds of all female respondents but only one-half of male respondents report having this potentially disabling condition. Several race/ethnicity differences in the preva- lence of some conditions are notable. As has been found in other data sources, Blacks have higher rates of hypertension than those of other population subgroups. More than two-thirds of Black HRS participants report having hyperten- sion, compared with one-half of the White and Hispanic participants. Blacks and Hispanics have significantly higher levels of diabetes than do Whites. Whites are most likely and Hispanics least likely to report cancer, lung disease, and heart problems. Hispanics’ reported rates of arthritis and stroke also are lower than those of Blacks and Whites. Co-morbidity, or the combination of multiple chronic problems, is an especially challenging situation for health management. The HRS examines older adults’ risk of having multiple chronic health problems. Table 1-1 summarizes the combined prevalence of six major health problems reported by the 2002 HRS sample: diabetes, hypertension, cancer, bronchitis/emphysema, a heart condition, and stroke. (Arthritis, which is common among all age groups, is not included.) The percentage of people free of chronic problems falls with age, and the percentages with multiple problems increase. Roughly half of the people over age 75 report two or more chronic conditions. However, the burden of co-morbidity appears to FIG. 1-2 HEALTH STATUS, by race/ethnicity: 2002 (Percent in each health category) Black Hispanic White/Other Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%