Good News About Cognitive Health

Rates of cognitive impairment among Americans over 70 are on the decline, according to a new study supported by the National Institutes of Health. Researchers tested memory and judgment among people age 70 and older and found cognitive impairment dropped from 12.2% in 1993 to 8.7% in 2002. They found higher levels of education were associated with better cognitive health, but said more research is needed to pinpoint the factors influencing the ability of older Americans to think, learn and remember. Read more by clicking on the study link.

More Seniors Living With Heart Failure Condition

The number of Medicare patients living with heart failure rose from about 140,000 in 1994 to 200,000 in 2003, according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. “Identifying optimal strategies for the treatment and management of heart failure will become increasingly important as the size of the Medicare population grows,” the authors conclude. The proportion of beneficiaries with a heart failure diagnosis grew from 90 per 1,000 in 1994 to 120 per 1,000 in 2003. Although the mortality rate declined slightly over the period, more than 60% of patients die within five years of diagnosis, the report's authors said.

Diabetes Among Senior Population Is Increasing

The annual number of Americans aged 65 and over diagnosed with diabetes increased 23% between 1993-1994 and 2003-2004, according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine (2008;168:192-199). The study used Medicare claims and other data to examine trends in the rates of diabetes and its complications. One-quarter of Medicare beneficiaries 65 and over had diabetes in 2003, up from 15% in 1994. The death rate for patients diagnosed with diabetes declined 8.3% over the period when compared with those who were not diagnosed with the disease. Most patients with diabetes experienced at least one complication within six years of diagnosis; for example, almost half had congestive heart failure. “For Medicare, the message is that the increased burden of diabetes will contribute to increased budgetary pressures in the future,” the authors said.

Diabetes Association Estimates Diabetes Costs Nation $174 Billion Each Year

A new report from the American Diabetes Association estimates diabetes cost the nation $174 billion in 2007. The estimate includes $116 billion in excess medical expenditures and $58 billion in reduced national productivity, according to the report by the Lewin Group. Medical costs attributed to diabetes include $27 billion for care to directly treat diabetes, $58 billion to treat chronic complications attributed to diabetes, and $31 billion in excess general medical costs. Hospital inpatient care accounted for half of the estimated medical expenditures. On average, medical expenditures are more than twice as much for patients with diabetes, the study estimates. As of 2007, 17.5 million U.S. residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, the study estimates, up from 12.1 million in 2002. “The burden of diabetes is imposed on all sectors of society – higher insurance premiums paid by employees and employers, reduced earnings through productivity loss, and reduced overall quality of life for people with diabetes and their families and friends,” the report concludes

Retail Health Clinics On The Rise

Expect to see more "You're sick, we're quick" clinics coming your way. There are now nearly 1,000 U.S. retail clinics in the U.S., operating in 36 states, according to a study by Verispan. The fastest growing player in the sector is Minute Clinics, which are operated by CVS Caremark. You can read a news article about the study here. http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/story.cms?id=7520