Research Outline

Patients with Chronic Disease

Goals

To find out the number of people in the United States who had, or currently live with Diabetes (both type 1 and type 2), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Early Findings

Diabetes
  • Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States.
  • 9% of the US population has diabetes.
  • According to data provided by the CDC, at least 79,535 American deaths occur yearly because of diabetes.
  • 1 in 4 Americans has diabetes and doesn't know it.
  • The number of Americans living with diagnosed diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2, peaked at 8.2 per every 100 adults in 2009. In 2017, the number of Americans living with diagnosed diabetes was 8 per every 100 adults.
Type 1 Diabetes
  • 1.25 million Americans currently have Type 1 diabetes.
  • An additional 40,000 Americans will be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes this year.
  • An estimated 5 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes by 2050.
  • Of the Americans who currently have Type 1 diabetes, 200,000 are younger than 20 years old.
  • That number is expected to increase to 600,000 by 2050.
  • Of Americans under the age of 20 who were diagnosed with Type 1diabetes, non-Hispanic whites have the highest diagnosis rate.
Type 2 Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
  • According to the CDC, 90% to 95% of all Americans diagnosed with diabetes are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
  • Approximately 80% of Americans who have Type 2 diabetes are overweight and have a family history of Type 2 diabetes.
  • The average age onset for Type 2 diabetes is 45. The likelihood that an American will develop and be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes increases drastically after age 45.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Smoking tobacco is a major risk factor contributing to the development of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
  • Approximately 25% of American COPD sufferers have never smoked tobacco products. In those cases, workplace exposure to COPD causing agents is thought to be what caused or contributed to the development of COPD.
  • The age-adjusted prevalence of COPD in the United States varies by state and geographic region.
  • According to the CDC, the overall age-adjusted prevalence of COPD was "higher among women, older adults, American Indians, and Alaska Natives. COPD prevalence was also higher among individuals who were obese or underweight, reported no leisure-time physical activity in the past 30 days, had a history of asthma, were less educated, resided in rural areas, and had other chronic conditions."
  • More than 16 million American adults have been diagnosed with COPD.
  • COPD is the 4th most common cause of death in the United States.
  • Americans living in rural areas are almost twice as likely to develop COPD compared to Americans living in metropolitan or urban areas.
  • Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with COPD, 56% to 44% respectively.