Education, Income, and Employment and Prevalence of Chronic Disease Among American Indian/Alaska Native Elders

Details

• Journal Article:
  Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
• Personal Author:
  Adamsen, Collette ; Schroeder, Shawnda ; LeMire, Steven ; Carter, Paula
• Description:
  Introduction
  
  Chronic disease studies have omitted analyses of the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) population, relied on small samples of AI/ANs, or focused on a single disease among AI/ANs. We measured the influence of income, employment status, and education level on the prevalence of chronic disease among 14,632 AI/AN elders from 2011 through 2014.
  
  Methods
  
  We conducted a national survey of AI/AN elders (≥55 y) to identify health and social needs. Using these data, we computed cross-tabulations for each independent variable (annual personal income, employment status, education level), 2 covariates (age, sex), and presence of any chronic disease. We also compared differences in values and used a binary logistic regression model to control for age and sex.
  
  Results
  
  Most AI/AN elders (89.7%) had been diagnosed with at least one chronic disease. AI/AN elders were also more than twice as likely to have diabetes and more likely to have arthritis. AI/AN elders with middle-to-low income levels and who were unemployed were more likely to have a chronic disease than were high-income and employed AI/AN elders.
  
  Conclusion
  
  Addressing disparities in chronic disease prevalence requires focus on more than access to and cost of health care. Economic development and job creation for all age cohorts in tribal communities may decrease the prevalence of long-term chronic diseases and may improve the financial status of the tribe. An opportunity exists to address health disparities through social and economic equity among tribal populations.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Aged Alaska Natives Chronic Disease/ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies Economic Status Female Health Status Disparities Humans Indians, North American Male Middle Aged Population Surveillance Prevalence Risk Factors Sex Distribution

  More +
• Source:
  Prev Chronic Dis. 15.
• DOI:
  http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd15.170387
• ISSN:
  1545-1151
• Pubmed ID:
  29565785
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5871354
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  15
• Collection(s):
  Preventing Chronic Disease
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:153722fcdac3afa63c38f6183f24b7de94dc42073eb7abbea83879905b44d5b8e0cc95c858b1cbb1ba0edb27616fdbf31d0561fbb049da99c50b83386c6b506d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/53201/cdc_53201_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 315.56 KB ]