Disease Trends and the Delivery of Health Care Services

Disease Trends and The Delivery of Health Care Services

Charlotte R. Williams

HCA/240

March 10, 2013

Jerrica Ampadu

Disease Trends and The Delivery of Health Care Services

This paper will discuss how the disease trends affect the delivery of health care. Starting with the current age composition of the United States population and how the future changes will occur in the next 10 to 20 years. Next, there will be identifiable factors that support environmental and changing trends. Providing examples of the relevant diseases and how the aging trend will increase or decrease health concerns or issues and how to reduce health complications due to age. The current rate of obesity will be discussed and how it will change in the next 10 to 20 years. This paper will also include the explaining of how the obesity trend may increase or decrease health issues and how to reduce the health complications. Finally, this paper will discuss the future and how health care services will adapt to provide care for these trends and health issues that are age-related.

The current age composition in the United States is based on two measures; estimates past trends and projections supported by assumptions for future trends. Estimates gather information on the existing information, as to where projections assume what the future trends will be. The United States population is currently over 311 million people and in the next 10 to 20 years the United States population is estimated to be over 363 million people. That is an increase of 52 million people by the year of 2030 and immigration is a large part of the United States population today.

The aging trend is likely to increase health issues over the next 10 to 20 years with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. With obesity increasing at such an alarming rate this will also be a health issue that needs to be resolved. By 2030, the number of individuals older than 65 will more than double to 71.5 million (U.S. Administration on...