Health Disparities among Adults with Disabilities

Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 27% of adults in the United States (US) live with a disability. These disabilities are often accompanied by poorer health outcomes with adults with disabilities reporting higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This review aims to characterize rates of disability among young adults in Camden County, New Jersey. Methods: Data was collected from the CDC and United States Census and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 365. Results: In 2022, 9.7% of residents of Camden County aged 18-34 were reported as disabled while the rate was 8.3% of US residents nationwide. The rate of disability among young adults in Camden Country was similar to that of the United States, z = 16.8, p = 2.0. The CDC reports that adults with disabilities experience greater disparities in health outcomes than the general population. Discussion: Adults with disabilities face challenges to health and wellness at rates disproportionate to the general population. The risk of these poor health outcomes can be ameliorated with small amounts of exercise. However, adults with disabilities can face barriers to physical activity not experienced by the general population. Partnership among state and local resources is the first step in addressing these barriers.