Progress Toward Healthy People 2010 Targets

The following discussion highlights objectives that met or exceeded their 2010 targets; moved toward the targets, demonstrated no change, or moved away from the targets; and those that lacked data to assess progress. Progress is illustrated in the Progress Quotient bar chart (see Figure 2-1), which displays the percent of targeted change achieved for objectives and subobjectives with sufficient data to assess progress.

In the first half of the decade, no objectives met their targets, but progress could be assessed for all but two. Six objectives and subobjectives moved toward their targets, two objectives remained the same, and three objectives and subobjectives moved away from their targets.

Objectives that met or exceeded their targets. No objectives in this focus area met or exceeded their targets.

Objectives that moved toward their targets. Six objectives and subobjectives moved toward their targets: activity limitations due to arthritis (2-2), counseling of adults with arthritis for weight reduction (2-4a) and exercise (2-4b), effect of arthritis on paid work (2-5b), hospitalization for vertebral fractures (2-10), and activity limitations due to chronic back conditions (2-11).

Although hospitalizations for vertebral fractures (2-10) approached its 2010 target of 14.0 hospitalizations per 100,000 adults in 2001, the rate subsequently increased to near the baseline. The rate declined from 17.5 per 10,000 adults in 1998 to 14.1 per 10,000 adults in 2001. However, in 2002, the rate rose to 17.4 per 10,000 adults—moving away from the target. At the midcourse review, objective 2-10 achieved 3 percent of the targeted change. The cause of the rate increase from 2001 to 2002 may be due to a 55 percent increase in the rate among one segment of the population, specifically persons aged 85 years and older. It is not clear whether this single year increase was an anomaly or the beginning of a trend.

Activity limitations for chronic back conditions (2-11) moved toward the 2010 target, achieving 43 percent of the targeted change. Between 1997 and 2000, activity limitations declined from 32 to 26 persons per 1,000 persons aged 18 years and older. The rate increased to 29 persons per 1,000 persons aged 18 years and older in 2001 and remained at that level through 2003.

Objectives that demonstrated no change. Mean level of joint pain (2-1) and arthritis education (2-8) showed no change toward or away from their targets.

Objectives that moved away from their targets. Personal care limitations (2-3), unemployment among adults aged 18 to 64 years with arthritis (2-5a), and persons with chronic joint symptoms seeing a health care provider (2-7) moved away from their targets.

Objectives that could not be assessed. Racial differences in total knee replacement (2-6) and cases of osteoporosis (2-9) lacked data to assess progress at the time of the midcourse review. Data to assess progress are expected by the end of the decade.

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