Treatments - Operations/procedures: By Age

Children, thank heaven, have the fewest operations and the oldest age group, those 65 years old and older, had the highest number in 2000. In 1990, the 15 to 44 age group ranked highest, but there is an explanation for that.
Fifteen to 44 is the childbearing period of women. In 2000, nearly 55% of all operations in the 15-44 age group were related to obstetrics and operations on the female genital organs. These two areas accounted for less than 21% for all ages. In 1990, women in this age group were 23.5% of the population, in 2000 21.8% — which goes far in explaining why this age group had more operations in 1990 than ten years later.

What is surprising is that, in this period, population increased by 10.7% but total operations recorded in the National Hospital Discharge Survey actually decreased 1.3%. We must note here, again, that we are having fewer operations — which must be good news. Had the ratio for 1990 still held in 2000, we would have had nearly 5 million more operations than we actually had. As the ads constantly besiege us, these days, "See your doctor." — And tell your doctor what a good job he or she is doing!

While women in the nubile period of their lives have decreased as a percent of total — and this group has also aged within the group (more women aged 35-44, for instance) — those aged 65 and over have increased by 11.8% in this ten-year period. The population as a whole is aging — and we are seeing the results in the graphic. Both those in the 45-64 and especially those in the 65-plus age groups, are having most of the operations in 2000.

Among the oldest, the three categories that represent the most operation are operations of the cardiovascular system (heart disease is still the leading killer), operations on the digestive system, and operations on the musculoskeletal system. The older people have bypass operations, catheterizations, and angioplasty procedures. They have most problems with the small intestine and suffer fractures. It is a little sad to realize that when you're finally ready to be put out to pasture, you will most likely find it crowded with operating theaters and CAT scan machines.

The people in the middle, those aged 45 to 64, exhibit a pattern very much like that of their seniors. The people in this age group have the same operations, in the same proportions, as the growing 65-plus crowd. They are simply early in the process. Those more hardy have their operation a little later.

Source: 2000 National Hospital Discharge Survey, Advanced Data from Vital and Health Statistics, Number 329, June 19, 2002. 1990 data from National Hospital Discharge Survey: Annual Summary, 1990, Series 13, Number 113. Vital and Health Statistics, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.