PCD News Summary for August 11, 2020

About the Journal: Published every Thursday, Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD) is a peer-reviewed online journal established by CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. The News Media Branch prepares press summary packets each week. To receive these press summaries on an embargoed basis, send an e-mail to media@cdc.gov. Please note that this e-mail list is for credentialed journalists only. All others, please visit Hookup to Health to sign up for e-mail updates.

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CDC’s News Media Branch releases to reporters the PCD media packet every Tuesday afternoon between 12 and 2 pm.

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Baby Boomers as Caregivers: Results From the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 44 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 2015–2017

Caregivers who are baby boomers more commonly report frequent mental distress and have more chronic health conditions than noncaregivers, which might put them at risk of needing care themselves. Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2015–2017) for 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, researchers classified 109,268 baby boomers as caregivers or noncaregivers and compared their general health (poor or fair vs good, very good, or excellent), chronic health conditions, and frequent mental distress (FMD). FMD was defined as 14 days or more of poor mental health in the past month. One in 4 baby boomers were caregivers. In adjusted models, male caregivers had a higher prevalence of fair to poor health than noncaregivers. More caregivers than noncaregivers had at least 1 chronic health condition and more often had FMD. The health of baby boomer caregivers is a public health priority, as these caregivers might need support to maintain their own physical and mental health.

Melissa Newton
Idoneous Constuling, Contractor
Preventing Chronic Disease, CDC
404.718.6281
mndwton@cdc.gov

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Note: Not all articles published in PCD represent work done at CDC. In your stories, please clarify whether a study was conducted by CDC (“a CDC study”) or by another institution (“a study published by CDC”). The opinions expressed by authors contributing to PCD do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CDC or the institutions with which the authors are affiliated. PCD requests that, when possible, you include a live link to the article in your stories. 

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