Current estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, 1995.

Abstract

Objectives: This report presents data on national estimates of the incidence of acute conditions, percent of medically attended acute conditions, number of disability days (including restricted activity and bed days, and work- or school-loss days), number of episodes of persons injured and associated activity restriction, prevalence of selected chronic conditions, number of activity limitations due to chronic conditions, number of restricted activity days associated with acute and chronic conditions, respondent-assessed health, number of physician contacts, and short-stay hospitalizations.

Methods: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a complex, multi-stage, probability sample survey conducted annually by trained interviewers of the U.S. Bureau of the Census for the National Center for Health Statistics. Information is collected during in-home interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population on a variety of health issues.

Results: The NHIS estimates that in 1995, there were 174.4 acute conditions per 100 persons. Of these, 67.3 percent were medically attended and this resulted in 674.6 days of restricted activity per 100 persons. Of acute injuries, 91.2 percent were medically attended. The most frequently reported rates for chronic conditions per 1,000 persons included sinusitis (141.3), arthritis (124.7), and deformity and orthopedic impairment (121.4). Some degree of activity limitation due to chronic conditions was reported by 14 percent of persons. There were about six physician contacts per person per year and 7.5 percent of the population had at least one hospitalization in the past year.