Although increased age is associated with these conditions, certain broad racial and ethnic groups have much higher rates of incidence and mortality for many chronic conditions, even with a lower life expectancy than non-Hispanic Whites.

In their fact sheet on racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes,¹ the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) identified cultural, economic, and social variables that have the potential to block or enhance public health efforts, depending on whether or not they are addressed effectively.

A recent article in Health Affairs (Altman, Tompkins, Eilat, & Glavin, 2003) predicted that because the baby boomer cohort tends to consume health care services at a greater rate than older generations, the aging of this population will contribute to an increase in health care spending. The health-care cost for those over 65 years of age is three to five times greater than costs for persons under 65, CDC reports that “the rapid growth in the number of older persons, coupled with continued advances in medical technology, is expected to create upward pressure on health- and long-term--care spending.”²

To respond to these current and projected demographic changes, public health organizations, leaders, practitioners, and researchers must increase their ability to plan, operate, and carry out their missions in multicultural environments.

References
¹ See http://www.ahrq.gov/research/diabdisp.htm#HighDiabetes, 2001.
² See http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5206a2.htm.