Survey: Diagnoses Of Cancer, Asthma, Diabetes Rising

CINCINNATI, Oh. — Numbers of Tri-State residents who have ever been told they have asthma, diabetes, and cancer are rising, according to a newly released Greater Cincinnati Community Health Status Survey.

Reported diagnoses of asthma rose 15 to 17 percent, diabetes increased from 11 to 13 percent, and cancer went up from 6 to 8 percent since the last survey in 2010.

In Southeast Indiana, results were similar and showed little change since the last survey.

“Having a chronic illness can be a heavy burden for an individual and a household,” says Francie Wolgin, Senior Program Officer, Protecting the Healthcare Safety Net, for Interact for Health. Interact for Health sponsors the CHSS. “This toll may be physical, emotional and financial, affecting many aspects of a person’s life.”

Other slight increases were seen in rates of depression, severe allergies, and chronic lung disease. On the other hand, the rate of people being told they had high cholesterol/triglycerides continued a downward trend, from 29 percent in 2005 to 27 percent in 2013.