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

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 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.

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

Other Objectives

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

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.

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.