Atlanta, Georgia – Have you ever thought that only certain demographics end up in health clinics? Think again. Recent data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sheds light on the surprising age range of Americans who visit healthcare centers the most.
In 2022, U.S. adults made a staggering 89.5 million visits to healthcare centers, amounting to 349.4 visits per 1,000 adults – a significant increase from the previous year’s 82.3 million visits. Two-thirds of these visits were disease-related, with conditions such as digestive issues and diabetes being prominent.
Surprisingly, the age group with the highest visitation rate was adults aged 55 to 64, visiting clinics at a rate of 418 per 1,000 people. This demographic may have higher visit rates due to the increasing number of diabetes diagnoses in individuals aged 45 to 64, making diseases like diabetes a prevalent reason for seeking medical attention.
The CDC’s analysis compiled data from primary care clinics providing services such as prenatal care, vaccinations, screenings, and more. An estimated 38.4 million Americans have diabetes, with rates projected to rise significantly by 2050 due to lifestyle factors like lack of exercise and poor dietary choices.
While diseases were the primary reason for healthcare visits, factors influencing health status and mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders also contributed significantly. Interestingly, mental disorder-related visits decreased with age, while circulatory diseases like high blood pressure increased with age.
Furthermore, gender disparities were observed, with women having nearly twice the visit rate of men. Single individuals were also found to seek medical treatment more frequently than married individuals, a trend that may be attributed to various factors like income levels, insurance status, and support systems.
The CDC’s analysis did not factor in variables like race, ethnicity, provider type, or insurance status, leaving room for further exploration of healthcare-seeking behavior across different demographic groups. The data highlights the importance of understanding healthcare trends to provide targeted interventions and support for diverse populations.