Physical disability in The Netherlands: Prevalence, risk groups and time trends

Abstract

Physical disability represents an important health indicator of western populations. In this paper the prevalence of physical disabilities in The Netherlands is presented for four domains of disability—visual, hearing, mobility and activities of daily living (ADL) disability—with a focus on risk groups and time trends. Cross-sectional national health survey data (NetHIS) of 9 y, 1990–1998, presenting data on 62 352 persons of 16 y or over were used. All data were self-reported. About one-eighth of the research population had a physical disability, ie had at least major difficulty with one or more functions such as walking, seeing, hearing and washing. This figure increased from 1.7% in the age group of 16–24 y to 44.1% in the age group of 75 y or older. Risk groups were women, those living alone, those who were divorced or widowed and those with a low educational level. In the period 1990–1998, the prevalence did not change with the exception of the prevalence of mobility disability which dropped slightly with 0.2 percentage points per year due to decreasing prevalences among men. One conclusion is that the prevalence of disability is high and stable, and expected to increase in the future due to the ageing of the population.