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perso~s'whd need more sophiSticated care are usually referred to facilities <br />such as the medical schools at UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, or Wake Forest. <br />Approximately 85% of the residents of Cabarrus County receive their medical <br />care in the county. <br /> <br /> The Cabarrus County Health Department does not have a physician on <br /> <br />staff. There is a medical advisory committee appointed by the local medical <br />society which provides consultation on medical problems and standing orders for <br />all medical procedures carried out by two physician extenders. <br /> <br /> Diabetes is a contributing factor in causing heart attacks, strokes, <br />kidney disease, foot ulcers and other chronic conditions. <br /> <br />STATEMENT OF NEED <br /> <br /> At present 43.5% of the population of Cabarrus County is over 35 years <br /> <br />of age. Another 15% fall between 25 and 34 years, potentially at risk. In <br />1978 Diabetes Mellitus was mentioned on death certificates, though not <br />necessarily the underlying ~ause, at a rate of 60.2 per lO0,O00 deaths, <br />~lightly higher than the state rate. <br /> <br /> As the 35 and older segment of the population increases, so does the <br />number in need of glaucoma screening. <br /> <br /> The median age in 1960 was 28.7 and rose to 29.9 years in 1970, making <br />Cabarrus County the second oldest in terms of median age of any of the <br /> <br /> Region F counties. The trend toward an older population is further demonstrated <br /> in Table 1. The decline of the Youth Dependency Ratio is a result of the <br /> lower birth rates, hence the smaller proportion of young people (below 15 <br /> years of age) in the population. The increased Aged Dependency Ratio and the <br /> Index of Aging illustrates the larger proportion of older persons (65 years <br /> and over) in relation to the total population. The decline of the Overall <br /> <br /> 2 <br /> <br /> <br />