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Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74 in North Carolina
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North Carolina Value:

54%

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65-74 with three or more chronic conditions enrolled in the fee-for-service program

North Carolina Rank:

29

Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74 in depth:

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Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74 by State

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65-74 with three or more chronic conditions enrolled in the fee-for-service program

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Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74

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Source:
  • U.S. HHS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, 2022

Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74 Trends

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65-74 with three or more chronic conditions enrolled in the fee-for-service program

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About Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74

US Value: 52%

Top State(s): Wyoming: 35%

Bottom State(s): Alabama: 64%

Definition: Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65-74 with three or more chronic conditions enrolled in the fee-for-service program

Data Source and Years(s): U.S. HHS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, 2022

Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. HHS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.

Chronic conditions are conditions lasting more than a year that require ongoing medical attention and/or limit daily functions such as eating, bathing and mobility. Adults with multiple chronic conditions represent one of the highest-need segments of the population, as each chronic condition may require additional medication and monitoring. As the number of chronic conditions an individual has increases, the risks of the following outcomes also increase: 

The prevalence of multiple chronic conditions is higher among adults age 65 and older who are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid compared with those enrolled in Medicare only (excluding Medicare Advantage). Among adults ages 60-79, the prevalence of individual chronic conditions varies substantially by race and ethnicity, but there is less racial/ethnic disparity in the prevalence of multiple chronic conditions.

 

Aging increases the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes. However, there are actions people can take to reduce that risk and maintain their health, including:

  • Getting more physical activity, which can improve muscle function in older adults.
  • Making healthy food choices, such as following the DASH Eating Plan, which has been shown to reduce the risk of hypertension and heart disease. 
  • Quitting smoking and limiting the use of alcohol and other substances. 
  • Visiting your medical provider regularly and making mental health a priority. 

Community-level public health strategies to prevent multiple chronic conditions among older adults include

  • Promoting healthy environments and lifestyles. Safe communities with amenities such as walking and biking trails tend to increase physical activity among older adults. 
  • Expanding the use and accessibility of clinical preventive services to ensure that older adults receive recommended screenings and immunizations. 

The Health in Aging Foundation offers tips to help older adults with multiple chronic conditions navigate the patient/provider relationship and manage their care effectively. County Health Rankings & Roadmaps has a page on evidence-based chronic disease management programs. Additionally, the Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends health care providers support individuals with multiple chronic conditions through comprehensive telehealth interventions to improve diet and text messaging interventions for medication adherence.

While Healthy People 2030 does not have an objective specific to multiple chronic conditions, it has many objectives around individual chronic conditions, such as: 

Boersma, Peter, Lindsey I. Black, and Brian W. Ward. “Prevalence of Multiple Chronic Conditions Among US Adults, 2018.” Preventing Chronic Disease 17 (September 17, 2020): 200130. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.200130.

Davis, James, Janell Penha, Omar Mbowe, and Deborah A. Taira. “Prevalence of Single and Multiple Leading Causes of Death by Race/Ethnicity Among US Adults Aged 60 to 79 Years.” Preventing Chronic Disease 14 (October 19, 2017): 160241. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd14.160241.

Rizzuto, Debora, René J. F. Melis, Sara Angleman, Chengxuan Qiu, and Alessandra Marengoni. “Effect of Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity on Survival and Functioning in Elderly Adults.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 65, no. 5 (May 2017): 1056–60. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14868.

Taylor, Christopher A., Erin D. Bouldin, Kurt J. Greenlund, and Lisa C. McGuire. “Comorbid Chronic Conditions Among Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline, United States, 2015–2017.” Edited by Steven M. Albert. Innovation in Aging 4, no. 1 (January 1, 2020): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igz045.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Multiple Chronic Conditions—A Strategic Framework: Optimum Health and Quality of Life for Individuals with Multiple Chronic Conditions.” Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ash/initiatives/mcc/mcc_framework.pdf.

Vogeli, Christine, Alexandra E. Shields, Todd A. Lee, Teresa B. Gibson, William D. Marder, Kevin B. Weiss, and David Blumenthal. “Multiple Chronic Conditions: Prevalence, Health Consequences, and Implications for Quality, Care Management, and Costs.” Journal of General Internal Medicine 22, no. S3 (December 2007): 391–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0322-1.

Wolff, Jennifer L., Barbara Starfield, and Gerard Anderson. “Prevalence, Expenditures, and Complications of Multiple Chronic Conditions in the Elderly.” Archives of Internal Medicine 162, no. 20 (November 11, 2002): 2269–76. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.162.20.2269.

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