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Eighty percent of older Americans live with a
chronic disease, new report rinds…Unique
resource offers ways to reduce risk for these
leading killers
Eighty percent of Americans aged 65 and older live with at least one
chronic disease that could lead to premature death and disability,
but these adults can lower their risk by adopting healthier
behaviors and getting recommended screenings, according to a new
report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and The Merck Company Foundation.
The report, The State of Aging and Health in America 2007, presents
the most current data available on 15 key health indicators for
older adults.
These indicators address health status (physically
unhealthy days, frequent mental distress, oral
health and disability); health behaviors (physical
inactivity, nutrition, obesity and smoking);
preventive care and screening (flu vaccine,
pneumonia vaccine, mammography, colorectal cancer
screening, up- to-date preventive screening, and
cholesterol); and injuries (hip fracture
hospitalizations) for older Americans.
The report also documents the progress made in meeting the national
Healthy People 2010 objectives for these indicators. The
"State-by-State Report Card" provides similar information for each
of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The State of Aging
and Health in America 2007 follows a similar report released in
2004.
"This report presents a reason for optimism coupled with a clear
need for action," said Janet Collins, Ph.D., director of CDC's
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
"Getting older in America does not mean having to live with disease
and disability. It is never too late to initiate healthy behaviors.
Public health has a critical role to play in providing older
Americans with support needed to ensure that their added years are
healthy years."
Nearly 95 percent of health care expenditures are spent on treating
chronic health conditions among older adults, according to the
report, which was issued at the 2007 Joint Conference of the
American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging. Two
demographic trends -- aging baby boomers and increasing racial and
ethnic diversity among older adults -- will add to the challenges of
addressing chronic diseases, the report concluded.
By
2030, the number of older Americans is estimated to reach 71
million, or roughly 20 percent of the U.S. population. As America's
older adult population becomes more racially and ethnically diverse,
existing health disparities for racial and ethnic populations whose
health lags behind that of non-minority populations will likely
increase unless such disparities are more actively addressed. By
2030, it is estimated that U.S. health care spending is projected to
increase by 25 percent due to the aging of the U.S. population.
The report provides bold "Calls to Action" on critical issues for
older adults, including oral health, environmental changes to
facilitate physical activity, and increasing the use of potentially
life-saving preventive services such as adult immunization and
screening to detect chronic diseases early, in their most treatable
stages. The report also includes a "Spotlight" on preventing falls,
the leading cause of injury-related deaths and most common cause of
non-fatal injuries among older adults. Emerging public health
opportunities such as promoting cognitive health and facilitating
the communication of preferences at the end of life are also
addressed.
"The State of Aging and Health in America 2007 presents important
information and key prevention strategies that can help Americans of
all ages promote healthier, active aging, and we are pleased that
The Merck Company Foundation sponsored this report," said Richard
Murray, M.D., vice president, External Scientific Affairs, U.S.
Human Health, Merck & Co., Inc. "Encouraging the adoption of healthy
lifestyles and engaging older adults as critical partners in
improving health will be essential to addressing the challenges of
population aging in the 21st century."
According to the report, the United States has met national targets
for four indicators measured by Healthy People 2010 objectives:
current smoking, mammogram within the past two years, colorectal
cancer screening, and cholesterol checked within the past five
years. However, there is much progress to be made on other fronts,
such as for flu and pneumonia vaccinations and reducing
hospitalizations for hip fractures, particularly among women. There
is considerable variation among the states for each indicator. While
the vast majority of states have met national targets for
cholesterol screening, current smoking, mammography, and colorectal
cancer screening, no states have met targets related to physical
activity, eating fruits and vegetables daily, and flu and pneumonia
vaccines. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have met
the target on oral health. However, only three states -- Colorado,
Hawaii, and New Mexico -- have met the target for obesity,
indicating there is much work to be done in this area.
A
searchable online version of the report, supported and developed by
CDC, is available at
http://www.cdc.gov/aging. An
electronic version of the report in pdf format is posted on CDC's (http://www.cdc.gov/aging)
and Merck & Co. Inc.'s (http://www.merck.com/cr)
Web sites.
About the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
As
the sentinel for the health of people in the United States and
throughout the world, CDC strives to protect people's health and
safety, provide reliable health information, and improve health
through strong partnerships. CDC's mission is to promote the health
and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury
and disability. CDC is one of the 13 major operating components of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the
principal agency in the United States government for protecting the
health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human
services, especially for those people who are least able to help
themselves. For more information, visit
http://www.cdc.gov/.
About The Merck Company Foundation
2007 marks the 50th anniversary of The Merck Company Foundation, a
US- based, private charitable foundation. Established in 1957 by the
global research-driven pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., Inc., the
Foundation is funded entirely by the Company and is Merck's chief
source of funding support to qualified non-profit, charitable
organizations.
The mission of the Foundation is to support organizations and
innovative programs that: expand access to medicines, vaccines and
quality healthcare; build capacity in the biomedical and health
sciences; promote environments that encourage innovation, economic
growth and development in a fair and ethical context; and support
communities where Merck has a major presence. Since its inception,
The Merck Company Foundation has contributed more than US$480
million to support important initiatives that address societal needs
and are consistent with Merck's overall mission to enhance the
health and well-being of people around the world. For more
information, visit
http://www.merckphilanthropy.com/.
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