Objectives: American Indians suffer disproportionately from diabetes compared with other populations. We assessed diabetes prevalence and recent trends among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Methods: AI/AN with diabetes were identified from the Indian Health Service national outpatient database from 1990 to 1997. Prevalence was estimated using projections from the 1990 U.S. census and age–adjusted by the direct method using the 1980 U.S. population. Results: In 1997, prevalence of diabetes among AI/AN of all ages was 5.40%, a relative increase of 29% from 1990; the age–adjusted prevalence also increased by 29%. Between 1990 and 1997, prevalence increased among AI/AN of all age groups—20% among those aged <20, 29% among those aged 20–44, 32% among those aged 45–64, and 25% among those aged 65 and older. Prevalence among AI/AN women was higher than among men, but the rate of increase was higher among men than women (37% vs. 25%). Conclusions: Diabetes is common among AI/AN. The considerable increase in prevalence among AI/AN in eight years, compared to only 14% among the U.S. population during the same time period, further contributes to the already large and disproportionate burden of diabetes in this population. Effective interventions for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention are needed to address this substantial and rapidly growing burden of diabetes among AI/AN.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. Recognize the large burden of diabetes among the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population. 2. Recognize the existing and growing disparity in diabetes prevalence between the AI/AN and U.S. populations. 3. Recognize the increasing burden of diabetes among younger AI/AN populations
Keywords: American Indians, Diabetes
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.