“Health, United States, 2010,” the 34th annual report prepared by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics is now available. The report includes a compilation of health data from state and federal health agencies as well as an in-depth feature section on death and dying. A special abridged edition, “Health, United States, 2010: In Brief,” is provided as a companion to the full report which are both available in print and online. Highlights include:

• The percentage of adults 45 years and older who use statin, cholesterol-lowering drugs increased from 2 percent in 1988-1994 to 25 percent in 2005-2008. Half of men aged 65-74 had taken a statin drug in 2005-2008 compared with over one-third of women in the same age group.
• Between 1997 and 2009, among adults 18–64 years of age, the percentage who reported not receiving, or delaying, needed medical care in the past 12 months due to cost increased from 11 percent to 15 percent; the percentage not receiving needed prescription drugs due to cost rose from 6 percent to 11 percent; and the percentage not receiving needed dental care due to cost grew from 11 percent to 17 percent.
• One-quarter of deaths occurred at home in 2007 – more than in previous years. This shift in place of death occurred both for people who were under age 65 when they died as well as those who were 65 and over. In 2007, most deaths still occurred in facilities such as hospitals (36 percent) and nursing homes (22 percent).”