Diabetes' Prevalence by Gender, Age, and Race in the United States (Trends Between 2005 and 2019)

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to provide a concise yet comprehensive overview of the multifaceted nature of diabetes prevalence in the United States concerning gender, age, and race.

METHODS: Representative data on diabetes was collected from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) via the CDC databases from 2005 to 2019. The IBM SPSS software version 29.0 and R was used. The overall prevalence of diabetes for individuals at least 18 years old was explored over the years. Then, diabetes prevalence over the years was explored by gender and age group, gender and race, and race and age group. Race was recoded into Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Others (Asians, Native Hawaiian, American Indian, and Multiple races). The age groups were divided into ages 18-44 years, 45-64 years, and 65≥. Descriptive statistics was done.

RESULTS: A line graph illustrating the prevalence and trends of diabetes in the U.S. shows a recurring pattern from 2005 at 10.4%, and a fluctuation in 2008 with a sudden spike from 12.5% to 14.3%, indicating a period of significant change. The prevalence peaks in 2014 at 14.9%, and the cycle continues to 2019 at 14.5%. The prevalence in the race and age group shows a continuous pattern across all races, with a sudden spike from 27.97% to 33.53% for Non-Hispanic black from 2016 to 2019, respectively, for the 65 ≥ years category. This is evident in Non-Hispanic black male and Non-Hispanic Other category, which peaked at 25% in 2010, while a sudden spike from 11.9% to 22.3% from 2018 to 2019 also exists for Non-Hispanic Other category.

CONCLUSIONS: We found that age group, gender, and racial cohorts are predictors influencing the prevalence of diabetes in the U.S., and understanding the varying rates of diabetes in different age groups, racial cohorts, and genders reveals a complicated web of variables.