Disability and Health State Chartbook– 2006 Profiles of Health for Adults with Disabilities (10/31/06)
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dh/chartbook/
This chartbook provides state profiles and data on prevalence, population estimates by race/ethnicity and gender, health status, and more. The chartbook also shows that the health of people with disabilities is not as good as that of the people without disabilities, and highlights areas in which public health systems can include more people with disabilities in their programs.

Correlates of Physical Activity for Adults with Disability (8/21/06)
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/jul/05_0207.htm
This study was designed to determine factors that influence the physical activity level of adults with disability as identified in a large representative sample of U.S. adults. Only one fourth of the study population met the recommendation for moderate activity level. African American race, age of 50 years or older, annual income of $50,000 or higher, and being in good, fair, or poor health were all significantly related to activity level; sex, education level, health care access, and years of disability were not.

Improved National Prevalence Estimates for 18 Selected Major Birth Defects- United States, 1999-2001 (1/30/06)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5451a2.htm
PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5451.pdf
Press Release
http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/r060105.htm
This report describes estimates of national prevalence and number of affected births in the United States each year during 1999-2001 for 18 selected major birth defects. The findings indicated that 10 of the 18 defects affected more than 1,000 infants each year in the United States. The conditions with the highest prevalence included orofacial clefts, which affect approximately 6,800 infants annually, and Down syndrome, which affects approximately 5,500 infants annually.

Trends in Spina Bifida and Anencephalus in the United States, 1991-2003 (1/30/06)
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/spine_anen.htm
This Health e-stat provides a 13-year trend for two neural tube defects, spina bifida and anencephalus. After a significant increase in the spina bifida rate from 1992 to 1995, there was a significant decline from 1995 to 1999. The rate was stable from 1999 to 2003. The rate for 2003 was significantly lower than in 1998. The rate of spina bifida in 2003 was 18.89 per 100,000 live births, the lowest rate reported in this analysis.

Newborn Screening for Cystic Fibrosis (10/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5313a1.htm
PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5313.pdf
In November 2003, CDC and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation cosponsored a workshop to review the benefits and risks associated with newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (CF). This report discusses the peer-reviewed evidence presented at the workshop, which supports the clinical utility of newborn screening for CF.

Newborn Screening for Cystic Fibrosis (10-30-04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5313a1.htm
PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5313.pdf
In November 2003, CDC and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation cosponsored a workshop to review the benefits and risks associated with newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (CF). This report discusses the peer-reviewed evidence presented at the workshop, which supports the clinical utility of newborn screening for CF.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Guidelines for Referral and Diagnosis (8/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fas/documents/FAS_guidelines_accessible.pdf
These guidelines update and refine diagnostic and referral criteria in light of the scientific and clinical advances in the understanding of this disorder during the past 30 years. The guidelines are organized into several sections: background information; revised and refined diagnostic and referral criteria for FAS; comparison of the guidelines with other diagnostic methods currently in use; a discussion of the essential services for affected individuals; identifying and intervening with women at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy; and future needs and efforts related to FAS and other prenatal alcohol-related disorders.

Public Health Approach to Birth Defects, Developmental Disabilities, and Genetic Conditions (2/27/04)
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/99018624 (Non-CDC site)
A special issue of the American Journal of Medical Genetics (Seminars in Medical Genetics) was published on February 15, 2004 (Volume 125C), and contains several manuscripts with CDC authors.

Economic Costs Associated with Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, Hearing Loss, and Vision Impairment (1/30/04)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5303a4.htm
PDF (p. 57)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5303.pdf
In 2003, RTI International (Research Triangle Park, North Carolina) and CDC analyzed data from multiple surveys and reports to estimate the direct and indirect economic costs associated with four DDs in the United States. On the basis of that analysis, estimated lifetime costs in 2003 dollars are expected to total $51.2 billion for persons born in 2000 with mental retardation, $11.5 billion for persons with cerebral palsy, $2.1 billion for persons with hearing loss, and $2.5 billion for persons with vision impairment. Certain public health measures (e.g., newborn screening for metabolic disorders) have proven effective in preventing cases of mental retardation and other DDs. In addition, low birthweight (LBW) is a known risk factor for mental retardation and other DDs, and maternal smoking and alcohol consumption are risk factors for both LBW and mental retardation. Smoking-cessation counseling targeted to pregnant women has proven effective in preventing LBW, and strategies to reduce alcohol use before pregnancy are being tested.

State-Specific Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults with Disabilities - Eight States and the District of Columbia, 1998-1999
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5136a1.htm
PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5136.pdf
To determine the prevalence of obesity among persons with and without disabilities, CDC analyzed data from the 1998 and 1999 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for eight states and the District of Columbia. The findings indicate that obesity rates are significantly higher among persons with disabilities, especially among blacks and persons aged 45-64 years. Of the total population surveyed, 18.4% were obese. Overall, and for each of the four demographic characteristics examined, persons with disabilities had higher rates of obesity than those without disabilities. Substantial differences existed between men with disabilities and without disabilities and between women with disabilities and without disabilities. In the population without disability, a slight but significantly higher percentage of men than women reported obesity; however, among those with a disability, a larger percentage of women than men tended to report obesity. Obesity increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, certain cancers, gallstones, osteoarthritis, and lowered life expectancy. The estimated annual cost attributable to obesity-related diseases is approximately $100 billion. Obesity among adults in the general U.S. population increased from 12.0% in 1991 to 17.9% in 1998.

Prevalence of Disabilities & Associated Health Conditions Among Adults - United States, 1999
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5007a3.htm
PDF
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5007.pdf
Disability remains a large public health problem, affecting over 44 million (22%) people in 1999. Although half of older adults have a disability, most (63%) people with a disability are working age (18-64 years). Arthritis and rheumatism (17.5%) and back or spine problems (16.5%) lead the list of conditions associated with disability, followed by heart trouble (7.8%) and lung or respiratory problems (4.7%). Women report arthritis and rheumatism as the main cause of their disability more often than men (22.4% women versus 11.0% men), while men (9.4%) report more heart trouble than women (6.6%). The increasing life expectancy of the population is likely to accentuate the impact and importance of disability over the next 30 years.

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

Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/
Learn more about birth defects and developmental disabilities.

Fact Sheets: Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/factsheets.htm
View fact sheets on a variety of topics related to birth defects and developmental disabilities.

Fast Stats A-Z: Disabilities/Limitations
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/disable.htm
View data and statistics on disabilities/limitations.

Health and Wellness for Women with Disabilities
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/women/
As many as one in five women in the United States are living with disabilities. “Disability” is a broad term that encompasses a sizable range of conditions and diseases. It refers generally to a limitation in physical or mental function caused by one or more health conditions. Depending on the definition used, 19.9 to 28.6 million U.S. women have disabilities – and the number is growing.

Kids Quest on Disability and Health
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/kids/
These quests are designed to get kids in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades to think about people with disabilities and some of the issues related to daily activities, health, and accessibility.

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This page last reviewed January 8, 2007
URL: http://www.cdc.gov/women/pubs/commhlth.htm

US Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Office of Women's Health