Older Americans see decline in health

Researchers interviewed adults aged 85 or older who possess some form of private health insurance and found that the number who reported being in fair-to-poor health had dropped from 29.8 percent to 29 percent. In this group, high blood pressure increased from 52.3 percent to 56.2 percent while the number with diabetes rose from 9.9 percent to 12.9 percent.

The NCHS did not examine whether the increase in hypertension and diabetes may have been caused by changes in the way doctors detect, treat and advise patients or because of actually increases in the incidence of these diseases.
It was clear, however, that possessing some kind of private health coverage and earning a higher income corresponded with better overall heath. The researchers concluded, “Poor and near poor adults and those with Medicaid had higher rates of most of the health conditions and impairments studied.”