Martin Linda G, Freedman Vicki A, Schoeni Robert F, Andreski Patricia M
RAND Corporation, 1200 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA 22202, USA.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2009 May;64(3):369-77. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbn040. Epub 2009 Mar 18.
To investigate whether the health and functioning of the Baby Boom generation are better or worse than those of previous cohorts in middle age.
Trend analysis of vital statistics and self-reports from the National Health Interview Survey for the 40-59 population. Specific outcomes (years of data): mortality (1982-2004); poor or fair health (1982-2006); nine conditions (1997-2006); physical functional limitations (1997-2006); and needing help with personal care, routine needs, or either (1997-2006).
In 2005, the mortality rate of 59-year-olds, the leading edge of the Baby Boom, was 31% lower than that of 59-year-olds in 1982 (8.3 vs. 12.1 per 1,000). There was a similar proportional decline in poor/fair health, but the decline reversed in the last decade. From 1997 to 2006, the prevalence of reports of four conditions increased significantly, but this trend may reflect improvements in diagnosis and treatment. Functional limitations and need for help with routine needs were stable, but the need for help with personal care, while quite low, increased.
Trends varied by indicator, period, and age. It is surprising that, given the socioeconomic, medical, and public health advantages of Baby Boomers throughout their lives, they are not doing considerably better on all counts.
调查婴儿潮一代在中年时的健康状况和功能是优于还是劣于之前的同龄人。
对40至59岁人群的国家健康访谈调查中的生命统计数据和自我报告进行趋势分析。具体结果（数据年份）：死亡率（1982 - 2004年）；健康状况差或一般（1982 - 2006年）；九种疾病（1997 - 2006年）；身体功能受限（1997 - 2006年）；以及在个人护理、日常需求或两者方面需要帮助（1997 - 2006年）。
2005年，婴儿潮一代前沿的59岁人群的死亡率比1982年的59岁人群低31%（每1000人中有8.3人死亡，而1982年为12.1人）。健康状况差或一般的情况也有类似比例的下降，但在过去十年中这种下降趋势出现了逆转。从1997年到2006年，四种疾病报告的患病率显著上升，但这种趋势可能反映了诊断和治疗方面的改善。功能受限和日常需求方面需要帮助的情况保持稳定，但个人护理方面需要帮助的情况虽相当低却有所增加。
趋势因指标、时期和年龄而异。令人惊讶的是，鉴于婴儿潮一代一生在社会经济、医疗和公共卫生方面具有优势，他们在所有方面的表现并没有显著更好。
