QuickStats: Percentage* of Adults in Fair or Poor Health,† by Age Group and Race and Ethnicity§ — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2019
Weekly / March 5, 2021 / 70(9);333
* With 95% confidence intervals shown by error bars.
† Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population. Based on a response of fair or poor to the question “Would you say your health in general is excellent, very good, good, fair or poor?”
§ Adults categorized as non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic Asian indicated one race only; respondents had the option to select more than one racial group. Hispanic respondents might be of any race or combination of races. Non-Hispanic adults of multiple or other races are not shown separately but are included in the total groups.
In 2019, the percentage of adults in fair or poor health increased by age (7.8% for those aged 18–39 years, 17.2% for those 40–64 years, and 25.1% for those ≥65 years) and for each racial/ethnic group shown. Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adults were most likely to be in fair or poor health in each age group. Among persons aged 18–39 and 40–64 years, non-Hispanic Asian adults were least likely to be in fair or poor health. Among persons aged ≥65 years, non-Hispanic Asian and non-Hispanic White adults were least likely to be in fair or poor health. Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black adults aged ≥65 years had the highest percentages of fair or poor health (40.3% and 35.5%, respectively), and non-Hispanic Asian adults aged 18–39 years had the lowest percentage of fair or poor health (4.1%).
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2019 data. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm
Reported by: Michael E. Martinez, MPH, MHSA, memartinez@cdc.gov, 301-458-4758; Tainya C. Clarke, PhD.
Suggested citation for this article: QuickStats: Percentage of Adults in Fair or Poor Health, by Age Group and Race and Ethnicity — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021;70:333. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7009a5external icon.
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