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Cited by 156Health disparities and outcomesPublic Health and Social InequalitiesChronic Disease Management Strategies

Chronic Disease Prevalence in the US: Sociodemographic and Geographic Variations by Zip Code Tabulation Area

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Benavidez, Gabriel A., Zahnd, Whitney E., Hung, Peiyin, Eberth, Jan M.·2024·Preventing Chronic Disease
DOI 10.5888/pcd21.230267PMC PMC10944638
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Abstract

Introduction: We examined the geographic distribution and sociodemographic and economic characteristics of chronic disease prevalence in the US. Understanding disease prevalence and its impact on communities is crucial for effective public health interventions. Methods: Data came from the American Community Survey, the American Hospital Association Survey, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's PLACES. We used quartile thresholds for 10 chronic diseases to assess chronic disease prevalence by Zip Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs). ZCTAs were scored from 0 to 20 based on their chronic disease prevalence quartile. Three prevalence categories were established: least prevalent (score ≤6), moderately prevalent (score 7-13), and highest prevalence (score ≥14). Community characteristics were compared across categories and spatial analyses to identify clusters of ZCTAs with high disease prevalence. Results: Our study showed a high prevalence of chronic disease in the southeastern region of the US. Populations in ZCTAs with the highest prevalence showed significantly greater socioeconomic disadvantages (ie, lower household income, lower home value, lower educational attainment, and higher uninsured rates) and barriers to health care access (lower percentage of car ownership and longer travel distances to hospital-based intensive care units, emergency departments, federally qualified health centers, and pharmacies) compared with ZCTAs with the lowest prevalence. Conclusion: Socioeconomic disparities and health care access should be addressed in communities with high chronic disease prevalence. Carefully directed resource allocation and interventions are necessary to reduce the effects of chronic disease on these communities. Policy makers and clinicians should prioritize efforts to reduce chronic disease prevalence and improve the overall health and well-being of affected communities throughout the US.

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  • The number of older adults is projected to increase from 58.3 million in 2023 to 72.2 million by 2033.

    “the number of older adults is projected to increase sharply over the coming years, from 58.3 million in 2023 to 72.2 million by 2033”

    From Industry and occupational employment projections overview and highlights, 2023–33 (2024) · cites this paper as [58]

    The Results table reports the percentage of residents aged 65 or older in ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, not a national population projection. Searches for the 58.3-million and 72.2-million figures and for projected growth through 2033 found no passage in our copy addressing the claim. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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Authors
Benavidez, G. A., Zahnd, W. E., Hung, P., & Eberth, J. M.
Affiliations
  • Baylor University (US)
  • University of Iowa (US)
  • University of South Carolina (US)
  • Drexel University (US)
Corresponding author
Benavidez, Gabriel A.
ORCID
Venue
Preventing Chronic Disease
Publisher
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Preventing Chronic Disease
Published
2024-02-29
Volume
21
Pages
E14-E14
ISSN
1545-1151 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.5888/pcd21.230267
PMC
PMC10944638
OpenAlex
W4392297750
Cited by
156
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 66 · 2025: 75 · 2024: 15
FWCI
70.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
public-domain
Locations
  • Preventing Chronic Disease (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM081740)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Health › Public Health and Social Inequalities
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Chronic Disease Management Strategies
Keywords
chronic disease prevalence, regional variation, sociodemographic disparities, socioeconomic deprivation, health care access, barriers to care, uninsured rate, household income, educational attainment, residential property values, southeastern United States, spatial clustering, resource allocation
MeSH terms
Chronic Disease, Educational Status, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, United States, Prevalence, Spatial Analysis

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