UT-EPHT - Health Indicator Report - Health status: physical health past 30 days

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Why Is This Important?

General physical health status is the culmination of all the things that affect a person's health. A person may have had poor health because of an injury, an acute infection such as a cold or flu, or a chronic health problem. This measure can be used to identify health disparities, track population trends, plan public health programs, and measure progress toward several Healthy People 2030 goals.

Graph

Data Table

	BRFSS Utah vs. U.S. Series Value	BRFSS Utah vs. U.S.	Year	Age-adjusted percentage of adults	Lower 95% CI	Upper 95% CI	Other
UT Old Methodology
	1	UT Old Methodology	1995	15.3%	13.6%	17.1%
	1	UT Old Methodology	1996	14.7%	13.1%	16.3%
	1	UT Old Methodology	1997	16.6%	14.7%	18.4%
	1	UT Old Methodology	1998	15.4%	13.7%	17.1%
	1	UT Old Methodology	1999	15.3%	13.6%	16.9%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2000	15.2%	13.5%	16.9%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2001	14.8%	13.4%	16.3%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2002	13.2%	11.8%	14.5%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2003	13.9%	12.4%	15.3%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2004	15.5%	14.3%	16.6%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2005	15.8%	14.6%	17.0%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2006	15.5%	14.3%	16.8%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2007	13.0%	11.9%	14.1%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2008	14.0%	12.9%	15.2%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2009	15.0%	14.1%	15.9%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2010	13.7%	12.8%	14.6%
	1	UT Old Methodology	2011		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2012		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2013		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2014		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2015		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2016		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2017		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2018		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2019		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2020		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2021		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2022		n/a	n/a
	1	UT Old Methodology	2023		n/a	n/a
US Old Methodology
	2	US Old Methodology	1995	13.6%	13.3%	14.0%
	2	US Old Methodology	1996	12.9%	12.6%	13.2%
	2	US Old Methodology	1997	13.3%	13.0%	13.6%
	2	US Old Methodology	1998	13.5%	13.2%	13.8%
	2	US Old Methodology	1999	13.9%	13.6%	14.2%
	2	US Old Methodology	2000	14.2%	13.9%	14.5%
	2	US Old Methodology	2001	14.8%	14.6%	15.1%
	2	US Old Methodology	2002	14.5%	14.0%	14.9%	^
	2	US Old Methodology	2003	15.2%	14.9%	15.5%
	2	US Old Methodology	2004	15.4%	15.1%	15.7%
	2	US Old Methodology	2005	15.1%	14.9%	15.4%
	2	US Old Methodology	2006	14.8%	14.6%	15.1%
	2	US Old Methodology	2007	15.0%	14.7%	15.2%
	2	US Old Methodology	2008	15.3%	15.0%	15.5%
	2	US Old Methodology	2009	15.2%	15.0%	15.4%
	2	US Old Methodology	2010	15.2%	15.0%	15.4%
	2	US Old Methodology	2011		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2012		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2013		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2014		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2015		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2016		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2017		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2018		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2019		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2020		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2021		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2022		n/a	n/a
	2	US Old Methodology	2023		n/a	n/a
UT New Methodology
	3	UT New Methodology	1995		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	1996		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	1997		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	1998		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	1999		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2000		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2001		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2002		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2003		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2004		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2005		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2006		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2007		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2008		n/a	n/a
	3	UT New Methodology	2009	15.8%	14.9%	16.7%
	3	UT New Methodology	2010	14.7%	13.9%	15.5%
	3	UT New Methodology	2011	15.2%	14.4%	16.0%
	3	UT New Methodology	2012	14.4%	13.7%	15.2%
	3	UT New Methodology	2013	15.0%	14.2%	15.8%
	3	UT New Methodology	2014	14.6%	14.0%	15.3%
	3	UT New Methodology	2015	14.6%	13.8%	15.4%
	3	UT New Methodology	2016	14.6%	13.7%	15.5%
	3	UT New Methodology	2017	15.0%	14.1%	15.9%
	3	UT New Methodology	2018	15.5%	14.7%	16.4%
	3	UT New Methodology	2019	16.5%	15.7%	17.4%
	3	UT New Methodology	2020	12.4%	11.6%	13.4%
	3	UT New Methodology	2021	16.0%	15.1%	16.9%
	3	UT New Methodology	2022	17.2%	16.2%	18.2%
	3	UT New Methodology	2023	17.6%	16.6%	18.5%
US New Methodology
	4	US New Methodology	1995		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	1996		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	1997		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	1998		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	1999		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2000		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2001		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2002		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2003		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2004		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2005		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2006		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2007		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2008		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2009		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2010		n/a	n/a
	4	US New Methodology	2011	16.7%	16.5%	16.9%
	4	US New Methodology	2012	16.6%	16.3%	16.8%
	4	US New Methodology	2013	16.5%	16.3%	16.7%
	4	US New Methodology	2014	16.1%	15.9%	16.4%
	4	US New Methodology	2015	16.2%	16.1%	16.5%
	4	US New Methodology	2016	16.1%	15.8%	16.3%
	4	US New Methodology	2017	16.6%	16.4%	16.8%
	4	US New Methodology	2018	16.9%	16.7%	17.2%
	4	US New Methodology	2019	16.8%	16.6%	17.0%
	4	US New Methodology	2020	13.2%	12.9%	13.4%
	4	US New Methodology	2021	14.8%	14.5%	15.0%
	4	US New Methodology	2022	17.6%	17.3%	17.8%
	4	US New Methodology	2023	17.8%	17.5%	18.1%

Data Notes

Notes

Age adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population.

^ In 2002, only Utah and 22 other states asked the question.

U.S. data are the average for all states and the District of Columbia; they do not include the U.S. territories.

Note: At the time of this update, the BRFSS U.S. dataset did not include an age variable but did include five age categories up to age 80+ (vs. the typical weighting scheme that includes 85+). Comparisons with both weighting schemes were compared using Utah data, and the difference was about 1/100 of a percentage point.

Starting in 2009, the BRFSS included both landline and cell phone respondent interviews along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting, or raking. More details about these changes can be found at: https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/pdf/opha/resource/brfss/RakingImpact2011.pdf.

Data Sources

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data, US Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Data Interpretation Issues

Question Text: "Now thinking about your physical health, which includes physical illness and injury, for how many days during the past 30 days was your physical health NOT good?"

Beginning in 2011, BRFSS data includes both landline and cell phone respondent data along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting, or raking. This methodology utilizes additional demographic information (such as education, race, and marital status) in the weighting procedure. Both of these methodology changes were implemented to account for an increased number of U.S. households without landline phones and an under-representation of certain demographic groups that were not well-represented in the sample. More details about these changes can be found at: https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/pdf/opha/resource/brfss/RakingImpact2011.pdf.

As with all surveys, some error results from non-response (e.g., refusal to participate in the survey or to answer specific questions), and measurement (e.g., social desirability or recall bias). Error was minimized by the use of strict calling protocols, good questionnaire design, standardization of interviewer behavior, interviewer training, and frequent, on-site interviewer monitoring and supervision.

Health Indicator Definition

Definition

Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who reported seven or more days when their physical health was not good in the past 30 days

Numerator

Number of survey respondents who reported seven or more days when their physical health was not good in the past 30 days

Denominator

Total number of survey respondents excluding those with missing, "Don't know/Not sure" or "Refused" responses

Health Objectives and Targets

Other Objectives

One of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Chronic Disease Indicators: "Average recent physically unhealthy days among adults."

Current Outlook

How Are We Doing?

In 2023, an estimated 17.6% (age-adjusted rate) of Utah adults reported seven or more days in the past 30 days when their physical health was not good. Adults who were obese reported seven or more days of poor physical health at higher rates (21.9%) than their normal weight (15.1%) or overweight (14.7%) counterparts (age-adjusted rates). Current smokers also reported higher rates of poor physical health (30.7%) in the past 30 days than nonsmokers (16.5%) (age-adjusted rates).

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Looking at age-adjusted rates for 2023, Utah had a similar rate to the U.S. rate of adults who reported seven or more days when their physical health was not good in the past 30 days. Utah's rate was 17.6% and the U.S. rate was 17.8%. Age-adjusted rates were used to compare Utah and the U.S. because Utah has a younger population than the U.S., and younger adults are less likely to experience poor physical health than older adults. Age-adjusting controls for differences in this measure that are due to the difference in age distributions of the populations.

Health Improvement Resources

What Is Being Done?

Until the last few years efforts to control chronic diseases have focused on preventing premature mortality. Reducing morbidity and improving disease self-management skills are now receiving considerably more attention from chronic disease prevention and control programs. The goal is to decrease the percentage of adults, including those who may have a chronic condition, who experience poor physical health days.

Available Services

The Department of Health and Human Services' mission is to ensure all Utahns have fair and equitable opportunities to live safe and healthy lives. We will achieve this through effective policy and a seamless system of services and programs.

Visit the Utah Department of Health and Human Services website at https://dhhs.utah.gov/ for more information about public health services in Utah.

Page Content Updated On 10/17/2024, Published on 10/22/2024

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Health Indicator Report of Health status: physical health past 30 days