introduction C D A J O U R N A L , V O L 4 9 , Nº 9
Addressing the Needs of Dental Patients With Chronic Conditions: A Look Into the Future Jayanth Kumar, DDS, MPH
GUEST EDITOR Jayanth Kumar, DDS, MPH, is the state dental director for the California Department of Public Health. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.
T
he coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused more harm to patients with preexisting, chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity than healthy patients. As of June 30, 2021, the 65 and older age group accounted for 73.3% of 63,023 confirmed COVID-19-related deaths in California, suggesting an increased susceptibility in part due to higher rates of chronic diseases.1 As a result, this pandemic has brought increased attention to the needs of older adults and those suffering from chronic conditions. Moving forward, the needs of older adults will require greater attention from U.S. policymakers and health care providers. In the recently released “Master Plan for Aging,” Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote, “Ten years from now, California will be home to 10.8 million people age 60 and over — nearly twice as many as in 2010. One out of every four Californians will be older adults, a seismic demographic shift that will change every aspect of our lives, from the structures of our families and communities to the drivers of our state’s economy.”2 According to this report, nearly half of all Californians will
develop one or more chronic illnesses. Nearly 9 in 10 older adults take at least one prescription drug, with 1 in 4 finding their costs unaffordable, even with insurance coverage. Older adults are also at particular risk for mental health issues like depression.3 Another challenge Californians face is that approximately 20% of all people 65 and older live in poverty. One-quarter of people over 65 rely almost entirely on their Social Security benefits, which average about $1,500 per month for retired workers and $1,250 per month for disabled workers. This issue of the Journal spotlights the burden of chronic diseases and its implications for dentistry. The California Department of Public Health 2020 report titled “The Burden of Chronic Disease, Injury and Environmental Exposures, California” provides a snapshot of chronic conditions, injuries and environmental exposures in the state.4 Approximately 40% of California adults reported having at least one chronic condition: serious psychological distress, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or asthma. One in every six children in California and 1 in 3 teens are already overweight or obese, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular SEP TEMBER 2 0 2 1
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