Limitation in Daily Activity
Health is affected by a wide range of social, environmental, economic and personal factors. We value health for itself and for what it allows us to do. Most King County adults enjoy good health, but poor physical or mental health limits a minority of residents by restricting their normal daily activities.
• A recurring health survey of King County adults asks: During the past 30 days, for about how many days did poor physical or mental health keep you from doing your usual activities, such as self-care, work, or recreation?
• In the 2007 survey, 6.8% of King County adults reported 14 or more days per month of restricted activity due to poor health, 19.4% had 1 to 13 days, and 73.7% said that poor health did not restrict them on any days in the past month. (figure 1) 14 or more days of restriction in a month is considered a severe activity limitation due to health.
• The percentage of King County adults with severe activity limitation increased between 1998 and 2007. This local finding is consistent with national trends.
• The 5-year average rate of severe limitation 2003-2007 was lower in the East and North Regions (4.3%, 4.2%) than in South Region (6.4%). Seattle’s rate (4.9%) did not differ from those of the other regions or King County overall (5.8%) (data not shown).
• Severe activity limitation due to poor mental or physical health is not evenly distributed in King County’s adult population.
• Limitation was more common in middle aged and older adults than among younger people.
• Asians, Pacific Islanders, Hispanics and whites all had lower rates of severe activity limitation than did American Indians/Alaska Natives.
• Higher income was related to fewer restricted activity days. Only 3.3% of people with an annual income of at least $50,000 had 14 or more restricted activity days per month. (figure 2) In contrast, 16% of people who earned less than $15,000 reported severe activity restriction.
• There was no difference in severe activity restriction by gender.
• College graduates were less likely to have 14 or more restricted activity days than were those with less education.
• A severe activity restriction is related to, but distinct from, having a disability. Disability is a broader category, including activity limitation due to poor health but also birth-related conditions, injury or aging. Many people with disabilities such as blindness, mental retardation, brain injury or age-related frailty enjoy excellent health despite their limitations. In 2007, 21% of King County adults reported a disability, defined as saying they were limited in activities by a lasting physical, emotional or mental problem, or that they used special equipment such as a wheelchair or special telephone.
Data Source, Definitions, and Limitations
Data on restricted activity days due to poor health and on disability come from the Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS is a random telephone interview survey of non-institutionalized adults ages 18 and older that has been conducted in King County every year since 1987. Starting in 2003, the BRFSS was administered in English and Spanish. The limitations of an Englishand- Spanish-only telephone survey include the following: a) people who do not have a land line telephone or who do not speak English or Spanish are excluded, and b) people who have less education and lower incomes are underrepresented.
