250676 Reinventing population health: Demographic challenges from Latin America and the Caribbean

Monday, October 31, 2011: 8:30 AM

Jon K. Andrus, MD , Fch-IM/PAHO, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C., DC
Every country in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is aging. As such, this process is imposing substantial challenges on households, health systems, and services.

In 1950 the number of people 60 years old and older in LAC was 5 million, representing 5.9 % of the total population. By 2006 this number increased to 56 million, representing almost 9% of the population. By 2025, experts predict this number will increase to 100 million. In addition, by 2025 there will be approximately 15 million people aged 80 or over.

In 2004, of the 36 million noncommunicable disease (NCD) deaths that occurred in older persons globally, 77% occurred in developing countries. Two out of three older adults in LAC reported having at least one of the more common NCDs. Only 27% of women reported having had a mammogram in the last two years.

LAC is aging at a time when it still lacks sufficient economic resources to address the challenges; 1/3 of older persons interviewed for the Health, Well-Being, and Aging (SABE) study reported they did not have a pension or a paying job.

This presentation highlights the critical need for LAC to develop a comprehensive strategy to respond to the emerging demographic challenges. Such a strategy should serve as a road map for countries to provide adequate future social support and health services.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Analyze the demographic transition in LAC and how its impact on health systems and services require their fast adjsutment to the new context.

Keywords: Aging, Latin American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Deputy Director of the Pan-American Health Organization
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.