Aging, diabetes, and the public health system in the United States.
Diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed) affects 10.9 million US adults aged 65 years and older. Almost 8 in 10 have some form of dysglycemia, according to tests for fasting glucose or hemoglobin A1c. Among this age group, diagnosed diabetes is projected to reach 26.7 million by 2050, or 55% of all diabetes cases. In 2007, older adults accounted for $64.8 billion (56%) of direct diabetes medical costs, $41.1 billion for institutional care alone. Complications, comorbid conditions, and geriatric syndromes affect diabetes care, and medical guidelines for treating older adults with diabetes are limited. Broad public health programs help, but effective, targeted interventions and expanded surveillance and research and better policies are needed to address the rapidly growing diabetes burden among older adults.
Epidemiology and Statistics Branch, Office of the Director of the Division of Diabetes Translation, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, USA. cjc1@cdc.gov
Carl J
CJ
Caspersen
G Darlene
GD
Thomas
Letia A
LA
Boseman
Gloria L A
GL
Beckles
Ann L
AL
Albright
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States