How Age Influences the Demand for Health Care in Latin America
Figure 4.5
143
DALY per 1,000 Inhabitants in LAC by Age and Gender, 2004
DALY per 1,000 inhabitants
400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 0–4
5–14
15–29
30–34
45–59
60–69
60–79
80+
age men
women
Source: Author’s calculations based on World Health Organization 2008.
Compared with other regions, the weight of the BOD in LAC is closer to developed countries than to developing countries. Figure 4.6 shows that in 2004, the BOD per 1,000 inhabitants in LAC was 46 percent higher than in developed countries but 70 percent lower than in SubSaharan Africa.6 However, the weight of morbidity in the BOD in LAC is higher than in any other developing region and closer to the highincome countries. Figure 4.7 shows that, different from the Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia patterns, the BOD in LAC is closely related to noncommunicable diseases, which are associated with the population aging process. According to the current literature (Lopez and others 2006), in developed countries, around 80 percent of older adults have at least one chronic condition and 50 percent have at least two. These conditions can cause years of pain and loss of function. Public health efforts can help avoid preventable illness and disability as the population ages. Many specialists maintain that poor health is not an inevitable consequence of aging, given that effective public health strategies could help older adults remain independent longer, improve their quality of life, and potentially delay the need for long-term care.
Aging and Chronic Diseases Chronic diseases disproportionately affect older adults and are associated with disability and diminished quality of life. They are often associated