Abstract
Objective
The purpose of this paper is to estimate the number of patients resulting from the aging of the population for selected diseases (colon cancer, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus and dementia) in 2012 and 2020 compared to 2002 based on the Federal State of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania as a model for Germany.
Data sources
The population projection considers fertility, migration and age-specific mortality in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. The calculation of patient number is based on age-specific incidence or prevalence from population-based epidemiological studies and/or registers.
Study design
The population for 2012 and 2020 is projected for 1-year gender-specific age-cohorts. The demographic projection is then used for the estimation of age- and gender-specific numbers of patients.
Results
While the total population will decrease by 10.5% in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania by 2012, both the proportion and the absolute number of people older than 64 years will increase (2002: 294,000; 2012: 349,000; 2020: 382,000). Asa consequence, the incident number of patients with colon cancer will increase by 24.4% by 2012 (+30.9% in 2020) and with myocardial infarction by 27.5% by 2012 (+40.9% in 2020).
Conclusion
The demographic change will lead to an absolute increase of patients with colon cancer, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus and dementia. At the same time the age-spectrum of patients with these diseases will shift towards older ages.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bergmann E, Kamtsiuris P (1999) Inanspruchnahme medizinischer Leistungen [Utilization of medical services]. Gesundheitswesen 61(Sonderheft 2):S138–S144
Bickel H (2000) Demenzsyndrom und Alzheimer Krankheit: Eine Schaetzung des Krankenbestandes und der jaehrlichen Neuerkrankungen in Deutschland [Dementia syndrome and Alzheimer disease: an assessment of morbidity and annual incidence in Germany]. Gesundheitswesen 62:211–218
Burholt V, Windle G (2003) Housing for an aging population: planning implications. Centre for Social Policy Research and Development
Eisinger B, Mustroph P, Richter D et al (2002) Krebsinzidenz 1999 im Erfassungsgebiet des Gemeinsamen Krebsregisters -Jahresbericht-Gemeinsames Krebsregister der Laender Berlin, Brandenburg Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen-Anhalt und der Freistaaten Sachsen und Thueringen (GKR). Medialis Berlin
Fischer H, Karpinski J, Kueck U (2002) Bevoelkerungsentwicklung in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern seit der Wende- Bilanz und Ausblick. Stat Mon.hefte-Mecklenbg-Vorpommern 249–262
Greinacher A, Fendrich K, Alpen U, Hoffmann W (2007) Impact of demographic changes on the blood supply- Mecklenburg-West Pomerania as a model region for Europe. Transfusion 47:395–401
Grundmann S (1998) Bevoelkerungsentwicklung in Ostdeutschland. Leske + Budrich, Opladen
Jordan K, Ong BN, Croft PR (2003) Previous consultation and self reported health care status as predictors of future demand for primary care. Public Health Policy and Practice 57:109–113
Luy M (2005) A tempo-based hypothesis for converging mortality in West and East Germany. Extended abstract at the IUSSP XXV International Population Conference 2005
Meisinger C, Heilander P, Lukitsch D et al. MONICA/KORA Herzinfarktregister Augsburg. Available at: http://www.herzschlag-info.de/01-himorb.html. Accessed April 4, 2004
Mollenkopf H (2003) Impact of transportation systems on mobility of elderly persons in Germany. In: Schaie KW, Wahl HW, Mollenkopf H et al (eds) Aging independently: living arrangements and mobility. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 177–191
Mollenkopf H, Marcellini F, Ruoppila I et al (2004) Ageing and outdoor mobility. Assistive technology research series, vol 13. IOS Press
National Institute for Clinical Excellence (2004) The assessment and prevention of falls in older people. [Clinical Guideline 21 web site]. Available at: http://www.nice.org.uk/CG021NICEguideline. Accessed December 14, 2004
Nolte E, Shkolnikov V, McKee M (2000) Changing mortality patterns in East and West Germany and Poland. II: short-term trends during transition and in the 1990s. J Epidemiol Community Health 54:899–906
Oeppen J, Vaupel JW (2002) Broken limits to life expectancy. Science 296:1029–1031
Okoro CA, Strine TW, Young SL et al (2005) Access to health care among older adults and receipt of preventive services. Results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002. Prev Med 40:337–343
Schulz E, Leidl R, König HH (2004) The impact of ageing on hospital care and long-term care-the example of Germany. Health Policy 67:57–74
Statistisches Amt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (2006) Statistisches Jahrbuch Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2006. Statistisches Amt, Schwerin
Statistisches Landesamt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (2003) Bevölkerung nach Alter und Geschlecht in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2002 (data file)
Statistisches Amt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (2007) 3. Landesprognose Bevölkerungsentwicklung in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern bis 2020 - überarbeitete Fassung 2007 - . Statistische Berichte. Statistisches Amt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schwerin
Thefeld W (1999) Praevalenz des Diabetes mellitus in der erwachsenen Bevoelkerung Deutschlands [Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the adult German population]. Gesundheitswesen 61(Sonderheft 2):S85–S89
Vaupel JW, Carey JR, Christensen K (1998) Biodemographic trajectories of longevity. Science 280:855–860
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (NBL3 program, reference 01ZZ0403).
Conflict of interest statement
The authors disclose any relevant associations that might pose a conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fendrich, K., Hoffmann, W. More than just aging societies: the demographic change has an impact on actual numbers of patients. J Public Health 15, 345–351 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-007-0142-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-007-0142-0