Online Program

282390
Exploring disability as an antecedent to health status: National health interview survey 2008-2011


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Alicia Dixon-Ibarra, MS, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Willi Horner-Johnson, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Background: Research has shown strong relationships between disability and poor health. Much of this association could be due to disabilities emerging from chronic conditions. Studying health in relation to disability onset can help illuminate the extent to which disability may be a risk factor for future poor health rather than the other way around. The purpose of this study is to utilize the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to examine chronic conditions among non-institutionalized US adults with and without lifelong disability (LLD). Methods: Although the NHIS is cross-sectional, it contains duration of limitation information. Using 2008-2011 NHIS data, weighted logistic regression analyses were conducted to describe chronic conditions (i.e., coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity) in adults with (LLD)(n=1,460) compared to persons with no limitations(ND)(n=69,155). Results: Adults with LLD were more likely to have coronary heart disease compared to adults with ND after adjusting for sociodemographics (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.36, 95% CI 3.29, 5.78). Adults with LLD were also more likely to have cancer, diabetes, and obesity compared to adults with ND after adjusting for sociodemographics (cancer AOR 1.49, 95% CI 1.13, 1.95; diabetes AOR 3.51, 95% CI 2.86, 4.31; obesity AOR 2.82, 95% CI 2.46, 3.23). Conclusion: Adults with LLD were more likely to have chronic conditions compared to ND, indicating that disability likely increases risk of developing poor health rather than solely being a result of poor health. Further research should investigate the reciprocal relationship of disability and health utilizing longitudinal data.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Epidemiology

Learning Objectives:
Describe how the National Health Interview Survey data can be used to investigate if disability is a risk factor for future poor health List chronic conditions in which adults with lifelong disabilities are more likely to develop compared to persons without disability Identify the need to further examine the reciprocal relationship of disability and the onset of chronic conditions

Keyword(s): Disability, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an epidemiology MPH student completing my internship experience at Oregon Health and Science University with the Oregon Office on Disability and Health. The analysis described is under the direction of Dr. Willi Horner-Johnson who has years of expertise in disability epidemiology. I am also a PhD candidate at Oregon State University with an emphasis on promoting health and wellness for persons with disabilities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.