Know the facts

Prevalence of cancer

This year, about 565,650 Americans are expected to die of cancer, more than 1,500 people a day. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease. In the US, cancer accounts for 1 of every 4 deaths.

From 2001-2005, the average age of diagnosis for cancer of all types was 67 years of age. Approximately 1.1% were diagnosed under age 20; 2.7% between 20 and 34; 5.9% between 35 and 44; 13.8% between 45 and 54; 21.3% between 55 and 64; 25.3% between 65 and 74; 22.4% between 75 and 84; and 7.5% 85+ years of age.

The incidence rate was 467.4 per 100,000 men and women per year. From 2001-2005, the median age at death for cancer of all sites was 73 years of age.
Approximately 0.4% died under age 20; 0.9% between 20 and 34; 2.8% between 35 and 44; 9.0% between 45 and 54; 17.1% between 55 and 64; 25.6% between 65 and 74; 29.9% between 75 and 84; and 14.4% 85+ years of age.

The death rate was 189.8 per 100,000 men and women per year.

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Prevalence of cardiovascular diseases

Estimates for the year 2005 are that 80,700,000 people in the United States have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD)

High blood pressure — 73,000,000.
Coronary heart disease — 16,000,000.
Myocardial infarction (acute heart attack) — 8,100,000.
Angina pectoris (chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle) — 9,100,000.
Stroke — 5,800,000.
Heart Failure — 5,300,000

It claimed 869,724 lives in 2004 (final mortality 36.3 percent of all deaths or 1 of every 2.8 deaths).
Over 148,000 Americans killed by CVD in 2004 were under age 65.
In 2004 final death rates from CVD were 335.1 for white males and 454.0 for black males; for white females 238.0 and for black females 333.6. (Death rates are per 100,000 population. The rates listed use the year 2000 standard U.S. population as the base for age adjustment.)

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Prevalence of Diabetes

There are 23.6 million people in the United States, or 8% of the population, who have diabetes. The total prevalence of diabetes increased 13.5% from 2005-2007. Only 24% of diabetes is undiagnosed, down from 30% in 2005 and from 50% ten years ago.
The incidence of diabetes among People Aged 20 Years or Older, United States, 2007

Age 20 years or older: 23.5 million, or 10.7 percent, of all people in this age group have diabetes.
Age 60 years or older: 12.2 million, or 23.1 percent, of all people in this age group have diabetes.

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Prevalence of arthritis

An estimated 46 million adults in the United States reported being told by a doctor that they have some form of arthritis.
One in five (over 21%) adults in the United States report having doctor diagnosed arthritis.
In 2003–2005, 50% of adults 65 years and over reported an arthritis diagnosis.
By 2030, an estimated 67 million of Americans aged 18 years or older are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

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Prevalence of Alzheimer's disease

As many as 5.2 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s.
10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's in their lifetime.
Every 71 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death
The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer's and other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and the like amount to more than $148 billion each year.

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