Aging
Publications and Materials

Below are selected publications and materials related to aging. Please note the year of publication may be later than the year(s) the data represent.

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Self-Reported Falls and Fall-Related Injuries among Persons Aged Older than 65 Years- United States, 2006 (5/11/08)
This report indicated that approximately 5.8 million persons aged over 65 years, or 15.9% of all U.S. adults in that age group, fell at least once during the preceding 3 months, and 1.8 million (31.3%) of those who fell sustained an injury that resulted in a doctor visit or restricted activity for at least 1 day. Women reported significantly more fall-related injuries than men (35.7% versus 24.6%, respectively).

Adult and Older Adult Adverse Drug Events (4/30/08)
Medicines cure infectious diseases, prevent problems from chronic diseases, and alleviate pain and suffering for millions of Americans every day. But medicines can also cause harm. When someone has been harmed by a medicine, they have had an adverse drug event. Learn more to reduce the risk of harm from adverse drug events.

Fall Injury Episodes among Non-Institutionalized Older Adults- United States, 2001-2003 (10/9/07)
Rates of fall injuries increased with age and were higher for women compared with men. The most common cause of fall injuries among older adults was slipping, tripping, or stumbling. Most fall injuries occurred inside or around the outside of the home.

Fatalities and Injuries from Falls among Older Adults- United States, 1993-2003 and 2001-2005 (12/1/06)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5545a1.htm
This study examined trends in rates of fatal falls and hospitalizations for hip fractures during 1993-2003 and in rates of nonfatal injuries resulting from falls during 2001-2005. The findings indicate that rates of fatal falls increased significantly among both men and women but were consistently higher among men. Whites had the highest fatal fall rates, but an increasing trend was observed for all races. Changes in rates for nonfatal injuries from falls were not statistically significant. Rates of nonfatal injuries from falls and particularly rates of hospitalizations for hip fractures were higher among women than men. However, hospitalization rates for hip fractures appear to be declining among women.

QuickStats: Percentage of Older Adults Who Engaged in Regular Leisure-Time Physical Activity, by Age Group and Sex- United States, 2000-2003 (8/21/06)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5528a7.htm
During 2000-2003, men aged 55 years of age and older were more likely than women in the same age group to engage in regular leisure-time physical activity. For both men and women, prevalence of regular activity was nearly the same for adults aged 55-64 and 65-74 years, declined among those aged 75-84 years, and declined further among those aged 85 years and older. Among adults aged 85 years and older, approximately one in 10 men and one in 20 women engaged in regular leisure-time physical activity.

Health Characteristics of Adults 55 Years of Age and Over- United States, 2000-2003 (4/24/06)
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad370.pdf
This report highlights the health characteristics of four age groups of older adults— 55–64 years, 65–74 years, 75–84 years, and 85 years and over— providing estimates by sex, race and Hispanic origin, poverty status, health insurance status, and marital status. Overall, prevalence rates for fair or poor health, chronic health conditions (with the exception of diabetes), sensory impairments, and difficulties with physical and social activities increased with advancing age, doubling or even tripling between the age groups 55–64 and 85 years and over. Men and women were about equally likely to be in fair or poor health across the age groups studied, but women were more likely to have difficulty in physical or social activities.

Older Patients with Caregivers and Assistance for Activities of Daily Living: 1998 and 2000 (11/30/05)
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/homhltpatients.htm
This analysis uses data from the 1998 and 2000 National Home and Hospice Care Surveys to examine activities of daily living (ADL) assistance received by home health patients ages 65 years and over and the extent to which receipt of services is related to sex. More males than females lived with their primary caregiver, 90 percent versus 68 percent, most likely due to men being cared for by their spouses who outlived them. Significant differences were found between the sexes in the receipt of ADL assistance. Specifically, more women than men received assistance with any activity of daily living overall, 53 percent compared to 42 percent, respectively. Almost half of the female patients (45 percent) received assistance from a home health agency to bathe or shower compared to more than one-third of male patients (35 percent). Eating assistance was almost twice as likely among female patients as male. In addition, 25 percent of females received assistance from the agency in using the toilet room compared to 16 percent of males.

QuickStats: Rate of Total Knee Replacement for Persons Aged >65 Years, by Sex - United States, 1979-2002 (2/28/05)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5407a6.htm
Total knee replacement has become one of the most common orthopedic procedures performed on older persons. During 1979-2002, the rate of knee replacement procedures among those aged >65 years increased approximately eightfold. These procedures are performed more frequently for women than men.

Prevalence of Visual Impairment and Selected Eye Diseases among Persons Aged >50 Years With and Without Diabetes- United States, 2002 (11/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5345a3.htm
To characterize the prevalence of visual impairment and selected eye diseases (i.e., diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma) among persons aged >50 years with and without diabetes, CDC analyzed data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). This report summarizes the findings of that analysis, which identified a substantially higher prevalence of visual impairment and eye disease among those with diabetes compared with those without diabetes. The prevalence of visual impairment, cataracts, and glaucoma was higher among persons aged >50 years with diabetes than among those without diabetes, overall, and for most groups examined. Among persons with diabetes, the age-adjusted prevalence of visual impairment was higher among women than men (28.5% versus 19.2%) and higher among those with less than high school education than among those with high school or more education (30.5% versus 20.9%). Among persons with diabetes, the prevalence of cataracts was higher among persons aged >65 years than persons aged 50-64 years (50.3% versus 16.1%), higher among women than men (37.3% versus 26.7%), and higher among non-Hispanic whites than those of other racial/ethnic populations (34.8% versus 24.1%).

Strength Training Among Adults Aged >65 Years- United States, 2001 (1/26/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5302a1.htm
CDC analyzed data from the 2001 National Health Interview Survey. In face-to-face interviews, respondents were asked, "How often do you do physical activities specifically designed to strengthen your muscles, such as lifting weights or doing calisthenics?" Women were less likely than men to meet the objective - adults who perform, >2 days per week, physical activities that enhance and maintain muscular strength and endurance. The findings in this report indicate that, in 2001, the majority of older adults, including those who met the national objective for physical activity, did not engage in strength training. Approximately 11% of respondents aged >65 years reported that they engaged in strength training >2 days per week. These results suggest the need for targeted programs to encourage certain older-adult populations (e.g., women and persons who are less educated, obese, or physically inactive) to increase strength training.

Public Health and Aging: Health-Related Quality of Life Among Low-Income Persons Aged 45-64 Years – United States, 1995-2001 (11/21/03)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5246a2.htm
CDC analyzed health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and related factors among a subset of respondents to the 1995-2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which found that low-income adults aged 45-64 years have worse HRQOL than all other adults. During 1995-2001, women in this population reported a mean of 6.4 unhealthy days, compared with 4.7 unhealthy days for men. In the higher income groups (i.e., annual household income of >$15,000), women consistently reported more unhealthy days than men. Among persons with the lowest incomes, men aged 55-64 years had the highest mean number of unhealthy days (14.8), followed by women aged 45-54 years (13.9).

Unique Lipoprotein Phenotype and Genotype Associated with Exceptional Longevity (11/20/03)
http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/hugenet/ejournal/lipoprotein.htm
This was a case control study of 213 Ashkenazi Jewish probands with exceptional longevity (mean age of 98.3 years, SD 5.3 years). This study suggests that lipoprotein (HDL and LDL) particle size is heritable and contributes to healthy aging. Persons with increased lipoprotein particle size had increased homozygosity for the I405V variant of cholesteryl ester transfer protein as well as lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and the metabolic syndrome. On average, women in the study had particle sizes larger than those in men, which may help explain the over representation of women in the ranks of those who reach their 100th birthday. Females represent 80% of this population.

Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Among Postmenopausal Women in the United States, 1988-1994
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/databriefs/hrtinwomen.pdf
This fact sheet draws data from NHANES III (1988–94) to show patterns of HRT use in the United States, and factors associated with HRT use. NHANES III data showed that nearly one-half of postmenopausal U.S. women have used different forms of HRT at some time, and over one-third of HRT pill users have been on the therapy for more than 10 years. Also, HRT use is not evenly distributed among subgroups, with the use of HRT being associated with menopausal type, race/ethnicity, education, and family income. Questions discussed include: when did women start using HRT, in what form, and for how long; and how does HRT use differ by menopausal type, race/ethnicity, education, or poverty status.

Hormonal Replacement Therapy, Prothrombotic Mutations and the Risk of Venous Thrombosis
http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/hugenet/ejournal/HR_therapy.htm
Consistent with current literature, the authors found an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) among HRT users as well as among the women with prothrombotic mutations. The results from this study raise concerns about prescription of HRT for women who are genetically predisposed to thrombosis. The authors argue that screening for Factor V Leiden in postmenopausal women and the subsequent withholding of HRT in women tested positive would prevent 5-25 thrombotic events per year per 10,000 women. However, because recent evidence suggests that HRT may not help prevent cardiovascular disease, withholding HRT may be more prudent and more cost-effective, as the authors point out, in women with other risk factors for VTE, such as obesity and familial risk.

Public Health and Aging: Nonfatal Injuries Among Older Adults Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments- United States, 2001
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5242a4.htm
To characterize nonfatal injuries among older adults, CDC analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicate differences in type and mechanism of injury by sex, suggesting that prevention programs should be designed and tailored differently for men and women. During 2001, an estimated 935,556 men and 1,731,640 women aged >65 years were treated in EDs for nonfatal injuries. The overall injury rate per 100,000 persons was higher among women (8,466 per 100,000 persons) than among men (6,404). The most common (47%) location for nonfatal injuries was the home.

Public Health and Aging: Nonfatal Physical Assault-Related Injuries Among Persons Aged >60 Years Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments - United States, 2001
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5234a2.htm
CDC analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program, which indicate that approximately 33,000 persons aged >60 years in the United States were treated in hospital emergency departments (EDs) for nonfatal assault-related injuries in 2001, with injuries occurring disproportionately among persons aged 60-69 years. The majority (55.4%) of adults aged >60 years who were examined in EDs were men. Older adults were at similar risk for being assaulted at home (25.9%) compared with a public area (27.5%). The types of injuries sustained were primarily contusion/abrasion (31.9%), laceration (21.1%), and fracture (12.7%). Compared with persons aged 20-59 years, a greater proportion of older assault victims were women, had fractures and were hospitalized at the time of diagnosis; however, these differences were not statistically significant.

Public Health and Aging: Nonfatal Fall-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Among Older Adults - California, 1996-1999
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5213a3.htm
California hospital discharge data were collected and analyzed to describe fall-related traumatic brain injury (TBI). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which support previous findings that persons aged >65 years are at risk for hospitalization for a fall and that same-level falls are far more common among persons aged >65 years than falls from a higher level (e.g., a ladder, chair, or stair). For this report, cases were limited to first admissions. Overall, males were hospitalized more frequently (59%) than females. Although 70% of hospitalizations among those aged <65 years were among males, females accounted for 56% of hospitalizations among those aged >65 years. Defining the circumstances of fall injuries and recognizing the type of fall leading to TBI hospitalizations among older persons can help health-care providers conduct risk assessment and management of falls in this population.

Trends in Aging - United States and Worldwide
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5206a2.htm
The median age of the world’s population is increasing because of a decline in fertility and a 20-year increase in the average life span during the second half of the 20th century. In 2000, the worldwide population of persons aged >65 years was an estimated 420 million, a 9.5 million increase from 1999. The sex distribution of older U.S. residents is expected to change only moderately. Women represented 59% of persons aged >65 years in 2000 compared with an estimated 56% in 2030. A higher life expectancy at birth for females compared with males is almost universal. The average sex differential in 2000 was approximately 7 years in Europe and North America but less in developing countries.

Public Health and Aging: Atrial Fibrillation as a Contributing Cause of Death and Medicare Hospitalization - United States, 1999
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5207a2.htm
One of the major risk factors for stroke is atrial fibrillation (AF), a common cardiac disorder characterized by cardiac arrhythmia and the absence of coordinated contractions, which increases the risk for blood stasis, clot formation, and embolic stroke. AF affects approximately 2.2 million adults in the United States and is the most common sustained heart rhythm disturbance observed in clinical practice. The rate of AF increases with age, from <1% among persons aged <60 years to approximately 10% among persons aged >80 years. Age-adjusted death rates for AF were highest among whites (25.7) and blacks (16.4) and higher for men (34.7) than women (22.8). In 1999, a total of 1,765,304 hospitalizations (137.1 per 1,000 Medicare enrollees) were reported among persons with AF in the Medicare population. Rates increased among successive age groups. The rate of hospitalization among persons with AF was higher among whites (142.7) than among blacks (100.4). Although 55.7% of these hospitalizations were among women, men (162.9) had a higher rate of AF-related hospitalization than women (121.2). Stroke is the leading cause in the United States of serious long-term disability and the third leading cause of death.

Combined COMT and GST Genotypes and Hormone Replacement Therapy Associated Breast Cancer Risk
http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/hugenet/ejournal/comt_gst.htm
An E-Journal Club review from the Human Genome Epidemiology Network (HuGENeT) of the Mitrunen et al. article. Includes a detailed abstraction of the article.

Prevalence of Health-Care Providers Asking Older Adults About Their Physical Activity Levels- United States, 1998
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5119a2.htm
To evaluate whether health-care providers ask about physical activity among older adults, CDC analyzed data from the 1998 National Health Interview Survey. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicate that approximately half of older adults who attended a routine check-up during the previous year reported being asked about physical activity by their health-care providers. A total of 52% of respondents reported that their health-care providers had asked about their level of physical activity or exercise. Women were significantly less likely than men to be asked. The likelihood of being asked declined with age and increased with level of education. Persons who were obese were more likely to be asked than persons with normal weight. To help older adults make lifestyle changes, health-care providers should ask older adults during routine check-ups about their physical activity levels.

Trends in Causes of Death Among the Elderly (Fact Sheet)
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/01facts/olderame.htm
The leading causes of death among the elderly are chronic diseases, notably cardiovascular disease and cancer. Under existing conditions, women who live to age 65 can expect to live about 19 years longer, men about 16 years longer. Whether the added years at the end of the life cycle are healthy, enjoyable, and productive depends, in part, upon preventing and controlling a number of chronic diseases and conditions. Over one-third (35 percent) of all deaths are due to heart disease, including heart attacks and chronic ischemic heart disease. Cancer accounted for about one-fifth (22 percent) of all deaths. Death from heart disease and atherosclerosis has declined dramatically for all groups.

U.S. Fall Prevention Programs for Seniors
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/falls/
This document describes fall prevention programs for U.S. seniors that research show are important components of effective programs: education, home assessment for environmental fall hazards, and access to home modification and/or repair services. These programs may provide models for agencies or organizations that want to develop fall prevention programs for older adults. Among people age 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and serious injuries. Among seniors with osteoporosis, falls can cause devastating injuries such as hip fractures; 75%–80% of hip fractures are sustained by women. Comprehensive programs from the following states are described: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia. Examples of program materials from several states are also provided.

Aging: Women’s Health Topics A-Z
http://www.cdc.gov/women/az/aging.htm
View women’s health resources related to aging.

Fast Stats A-Z: Older Persons’ Health Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/older_americans.htm
View data and statistics on older persons’ health statistics.

Healthy Aging
http://www.cdc.gov/aging/
Learn more about healthy aging.