More than one in three persons (34%) reported at least one bed day in the previous 12 months because of a medical condition. One in four (24.5%) reported having a musculoskeletal condition, six times the rate reported for depression and circulatory conditions, the second and third most common conditions reported.

The average number of bed days reported by persons with musculoskeletal conditions was 9, for a total of more than 752 million bed days among persons with these conditions. Although the average number of bed days reported for other major health conditions was greater than for musculoskeletal conditions, the much higher proportion of the population with bed days because of musculoskeletal conditions resulted in the much higher number of total days. (Reference Table 1.8.1 PDF CSV and Table 1.8.3 PDF CSV)

Females and persons age 45 to 64 report higher rates of bed days because of musculoskeletal conditions than do males and adults age 18 to 44 or over 65. (Reference Table 1.8.4 PDF CSV and Table 1.8.5 PDF CSV)