The link between income and health outcomes is well-established, with lower-income individuals often experiencing worse health outcomes compared to their wealthier counterparts. A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adds to this body of research, finding that income-related inequalities in diabetes have worsened over the past decade.
The study, which was published in the journal Diabetes Care, analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2009 and 2018. The researchers found that in 2009-2010, individuals with household incomes below the federal poverty level had a diabetes prevalence of 17.9%, compared to 7.2% among those with household incomes at or above 400% of the poverty level. By 2017-2018, the diabetes prevalence among the lower-income group had increased to 23.7%, while the prevalence among the higher-income group had only increased slightly, to 7.5%.
The study also found that the disparities in diabetes prevalence were even more pronounced when looking at race and ethnicity. In 2009-2010, Black and Hispanic individuals with household incomes below the poverty level had a diabetes prevalence of 23.8% and 22.3%, respectively, compared to 9.8% and 6.5% among white and Asian individuals in the same income bracket. By 2017-2018, the diabetes prevalence among Black and Hispanic individuals in the lower-income group had increased to 32.5% and 30.8%, respectively, while the prevalence among white and Asian individuals had only increased to 8.2% and 9.9%.
The study’s authors note that the worsening income-related inequalities in diabetes prevalence could have serious implications for public health efforts. They suggest that interventions aimed at reducing diabetes prevalence should target lower-income and minority populations specifically, and that policies aimed at reducing income inequality more broadly could also have positive effects on health outcomes.
The findings of this study underscore the importance of addressing healthcare disparities and income inequality in order to improve public health outcomes. By identifying populations that are at higher risk for diabetes and implementing targeted interventions, public health officials can work towards reducing the burden of this chronic disease. Additionally, efforts to address income inequality more broadly could have positive effects on health outcomes, including diabetes prevalence, and should be a priority for policymakers and healthcare stakeholders alike.
