Key Findings

What are some of CDC's key findings related to adult health-related quality of life?

• Americans said they feel unhealthy (physically or mentally) about 6 days per month.
  
  
• Approximately one-third of Americans say they suffer from some mental or emotional problem every month—including 10 percent who said their mental health was not good for 14 or more days a month.
  
  
• Younger American adults, aged 18–24 years, suffered the most mental health distress.
  
  
• Older adults suffered the most poor physical health and activity limitation.
  
  
• Native Americans and Alaska Natives have reported the highest levels of unhealthy days among American race/ethnic groups.
  
  
• Adults with the lowest income or education reported more unhealthy days than those with higher income or education.
  
  
• Americans with chronic diseases or disabilities reported more unhealthy days than those without these diseases or disabilities.
  

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Disease Specific Findings

Arthritis
Of almost 10,000 adults, those with arthritis reported 4.6 more unhealthy days per month than those without arthritis. Among adults with arthritis, women, younger persons, and persons with less than a college education reported the most unhealthy days.

• CDC's Arthritis Program

Breast Cancer
Among more than 300,000 women, women with breast cancer reported experiencing 8.5 overall unhealthy days per month compared with 6.1 overall unhealthy days per month for women without breast cancer.

• CDC's breast cancer site
• CDC's women's health program

Cardiovascular Disease
Among more than 50,000 respondents in 21 states, persons reporting having had a heart attack, coronary heart disease, or stroke reported an average of 10 overall unhealthy days in the past month, 5 more overall unhealthy days than that among persons not having had one of these conditions.

• CDC’s heart disease and stroke prevention program

Diabetes
Among more than 500,000 adults surveyed, adults with diabetes reported experiencing 9.9 overall unhealthy days per month compared with 5.1 overall unhealthy days per month for adults without diabetes.

• CDC's Diabetes Program

Epilepsy
Among more than 2,000 adults surveyed, adults with active epilepsy reported experiencing 15.1 overall unhealthy days per month compared with 5.9 overall unhealthy days per month for adults without epilepsy. Adults with seizures in the past 3 months reported 17.6 overall unhealthy days (Kobau, 2008).

• CDC’s Epilepsy Program

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