141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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284483
Prevalence of diabetes among US adults by age group: A comparison across states


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Henry Olano, B.A., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Diana Kachan, PhD, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
William G. LeBlanc, PhD, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
Laura A. McClure, MSPH, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Manuel Ocasio, BA, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
David J. Lee, PhD, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Background: The prevalence of diabetes in the United States varies geographically and by age. American adults of age 65+ have an especially high prevalence of diabetes. We compared the prevalence of diabetes among adults in specific age groups across states in the U.S., and identified high- and low- risk states.

Methods: We analyzed pooled data from the 1997-2010 National Health Interview Survey. We ranked US states by prevalence of diabetes among the total adult population, as well as in the age groups of 18-64 and 65+.

Results: Adult residents of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia had the highest prevalence of diabetes (range: 10.06-10.93), whereas residents of Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Utah, and Vermont ranked lowest (range: 4.9-6.06). In the age group of 18-64, residents of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia had the highest prevalence (range: 7.61-8.00), whereas residents of Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Utah, and Vermont ranked lowest (range: 2.74- 4.20). In the age group of 65+, residents of Mississippi, Kentucky, South Carolina, Wyoming, and West Virginia had the highest prevalence (range:22.49- 24.48), whereas residents of Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, and Rhode Island ranked lowest (range: 14.21-15.01).

Conclusions: States in the South tend to be ranked highest across all age groups. Future research examining the factors accounting for state-specific differences in diabetes prevalence could provide policy-makers with pertinent information on methods for decreasing the prevalence of diabetes among American adults and across different age groups.

Learning Areas:

Biostatistics, economics
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Epidemiology
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate differences in diabetes prevalence in adults across U.S. states. Discuss the relationship between geographical location and diabetes status for adults across different age groups. Identify regional trends of interest in diabetes prevalence among U.S. adults.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am currently a student in the MPH program at the University of Miami, as well as a graduate research assistant in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health.
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.

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