March 8, 2007

Eighty Percent of Older Americans Live With a Chronic Disease, New Report Finds

CHICAGO, March 8, 2007 - 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 www.cdc.gov/aging
An electronic version of the report in pdf format is posted on the CDC's website here: The State of Aging and Health in America 2007 Report