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Bad News: Percentage of Working-Age Type 2 Diabetes Population in Philadelphia Is Significantly Higher Than National Rate; Average Charges for Treatment Are Also High
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PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater Philadelphia Diabetes Coalition (GPDC) announced today the release of a report that addresses the demographics, costs and quality of care for people with Type 2 diabetes. The Greater Philadelphia Type 2 Diabetes Report for 2008 presents an overview of patient demographics, hospital and professional charges, utilization of clinical services and drug therapy for people with Type 2 diabetes in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan statisical area (MSA), along with other regional markets in Western Pennsylvania and Atlantic City, New Jersey. The report also provides national benchmarks that can help employers and providers better identify opportunities to serve the needs of people with Type 2 diabetes.
"GPDC helped develop the Greater Philadelphia Type 2 Diabetes Report to serve as a useful resource for employers illustrating the serious negative impact diabetes has on the Greater Philadelphia area," said Ronald Brooks, MD, Chairman of the GPDC. "This report points out the need to prevent diabetes through exercise and prudent nutrition as well as the importance that people with diabetes receive optimal care, based on evidenced based guidelines," added Brooks, " locating where diabetes is growing also helps funnel resource allocations, to the areas with the highest need".
Incidence of Type 2 diabetes for prime working age people versus seniors
According to this report, well over half (57.0 percent) the people with Type 2 diabetes in 2007 in Philadelphia were between the ages of 18 and 64 years old, the prime working ages for most Americans. This was notably higher than the national average of 52.3 percent, but less than the 59.4% patient share that fell into this age category in Atlantic City. Conversely, the percentage of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in Philadelphia who were 65 years of age and over was 42.7%, significantly lower than the national average of 46.8%.
Charges for diabetes care in Philadelphia are high
Charges for the care of people with Type 2 diabetes are higher in Philadelphia than any of the other five markets profiled in the Report. The 2007 annual average for hospital inpatient charges for treating people with Type 2 diabetes was $95,813, nearly twice as high as the national average of $49,870. The average annual hospital outpatient charges for treating people with Type 2 diabetes in Philadelphia, at $6,168, are likewise significantly higher than than the national average of $4,673.
Quality of care shows positives
The quality of care indicators for patients with Type 2 diabetes, a major concern, pointed to positive signs for employers who want to ensure that their employees receive appropriate care. In addition to demographic and cost information, the Greater Philadelphia Type 2 Diabetes Report shows the percentage of people with diabetes receiving recommended services, such as for blood and urine glucose, Hemoglobin A1C, eye exams, and serum cholestoral tests. The percentages for these care indicators are higher in Philadelphia compared with the corresponding national averages in all five services profiled. For example, people with Type 2 diabetes in Philadelphia who received a Hemoglobin A1C test (a key marker for managing diabetes) in 2007 was 75.2 percent compared with the national average of 73.8 percent.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 27 million Americans have diabetes, with an average of 1 million new cases being diagnosed each year in people over the age of 20. Nine out of ten of these patients have the Type 2 variety. The cost of diabetes in the US was approximately $132 billion in 2002, with $92 billion spent on medical services. The economic loss to the US economy due to higher rates of lost work time, disability and premature mortality associated with diabetes in the working population was approximately $40 billion in 2002.
About the Greater Philadelphia Type 2 Diabetes Report for 2008
The Greater Philadelphia Type 2 Diabetes Report for 2008 helps GPDC fulfill its commitment to its employer members and community health partners to promote and maintain a high quality, efficient and affordable health care delivery system. The report was produced with assistance from sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC. The complete report is available in electronic format on GPDC's website at www.phillydiabetes.org and may be downloaded free of charge.
About Greater Philadelphia Diabetes Coalition
Our mission is to encourage adherence to care guidelines for diabetes through the collaboration of our healthcare organizations. This collaboration will focus on:
Increasing awareness of diabetes by encouraging prevention, early detection and appropriate ongoing care. Communicating standards of care for diabetes to Health Care Providers and patients. Sharing educational materials for patients with diabetes.
www.phillydiabetes.org
About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC is an affiliate of sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY). Visit www.sanofi-aventis.us or www.sanofi-aventis.com.
For more information, contact: Ronald Brooks, MD, Chairman Greater Philadelphia Diabetes Coalition 877-980-4687
SOURCE Greater Philadelphia Diabetes Coalition
