Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74 in United States
United States
Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
United States Value:
52%
Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65-74 with three or more chronic conditions enrolled in the fee-for-service program
Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74 in depth:
Additional Measures:
Explore Population Data:
Appears In:
Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74 by State
Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65-74 with three or more chronic conditions enrolled in the fee-for-service program
Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74 in
Data from U.S. HHS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, 2022
<= 44%
45% - 49%
50% - 54%
55% - 56%
>= 57%
Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74
- U.S. HHS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, 2022
About Multiple Chronic Conditions - Ages 65-74
US Value: 52%
Top State(s): Wyoming: 35%
Bottom State(s): Alabama: 64%
Definition: Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65-74 with three or more chronic conditions enrolled in the fee-for-service program
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. HHS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, 2022
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. HHS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Minority Health, Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
Chronic conditions are conditions lasting more than a year that require ongoing medical attention and/or limit daily functions such as eating, bathing and mobility. Adults with multiple chronic conditions represent one of the highest-need segments of the population, as each chronic condition may require additional medication and monitoring. As the number of chronic conditions an individual has increases, the risks of the following outcomes also increase:
The prevalence of multiple chronic conditions is higher among adults age 65 and older who are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid compared with those enrolled in Medicare only (excluding Medicare Advantage). Among adults ages 60-79, the prevalence of individual chronic conditions varies substantially by race and ethnicity, but there is less racial/ethnic disparity in the prevalence of multiple chronic conditions.
Aging increases the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and Type 2 diabetes. However, there are actions people can take to reduce that risk and maintain their health, including:
- Getting more physical activity, which can improve muscle function in older adults.
- Making healthy food choices, such as following the DASH Eating Plan, which has been shown to reduce the risk of hypertension and heart disease.
- Quitting smoking and limiting the use of alcohol and other substances.
- Visiting your medical provider regularly and making mental health a priority.
Community-level public health strategies to prevent multiple chronic conditions among older adults include:
- Promoting healthy environments and lifestyles. Safe communities with amenities such as walking and biking trails tend to increase physical activity among older adults.
- Expanding the use and accessibility of clinical preventive services to ensure that older adults receive recommended screenings and immunizations.
The Health in Aging Foundation offers tips to help older adults with multiple chronic conditions navigate the patient/provider relationship and manage their care effectively. County Health Rankings & Roadmaps has a page on evidence-based chronic disease management programs. Additionally, the Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends health care providers support individuals with multiple chronic conditions through comprehensive telehealth interventions to improve diet and text messaging interventions for medication adherence.
While Healthy People 2030 does not have an objective specific to multiple chronic conditions, it has many objectives around individual chronic conditions, such as:
Boersma, Peter, Lindsey I. Black, and Brian W. Ward. “Prevalence of Multiple Chronic Conditions Among US Adults, 2018.” Preventing Chronic Disease 17 (September 17, 2020): 200130. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.200130.
Davis, James, Janell Penha, Omar Mbowe, and Deborah A. Taira. “Prevalence of Single and Multiple Leading Causes of Death by Race/Ethnicity Among US Adults Aged 60 to 79 Years.” Preventing Chronic Disease 14 (October 19, 2017): 160241. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd14.160241.
Rizzuto, Debora, René J. F. Melis, Sara Angleman, Chengxuan Qiu, and Alessandra Marengoni. “Effect of Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity on Survival and Functioning in Elderly Adults.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 65, no. 5 (May 2017): 1056–60. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14868.
Taylor, Christopher A., Erin D. Bouldin, Kurt J. Greenlund, and Lisa C. McGuire. “Comorbid Chronic Conditions Among Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline, United States, 2015–2017.” Edited by Steven M. Albert. Innovation in Aging 4, no. 1 (January 1, 2020): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igz045.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Multiple Chronic Conditions—A Strategic Framework: Optimum Health and Quality of Life for Individuals with Multiple Chronic Conditions.” Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ash/initiatives/mcc/mcc_framework.pdf.
Vogeli, Christine, Alexandra E. Shields, Todd A. Lee, Teresa B. Gibson, William D. Marder, Kevin B. Weiss, and David Blumenthal. “Multiple Chronic Conditions: Prevalence, Health Consequences, and Implications for Quality, Care Management, and Costs.” Journal of General Internal Medicine 22, no. S3 (December 2007): 391–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0322-1.
Wolff, Jennifer L., Barbara Starfield, and Gerard Anderson. “Prevalence, Expenditures, and Complications of Multiple Chronic Conditions in the Elderly.” Archives of Internal Medicine 162, no. 20 (November 11, 2002): 2269–76. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.162.20.2269.
Related Measures
Current Reports
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
