Kimberly A. Skarupski|Alden L. Gross|Jennifer Schrack|Jennifer A. Deal|Gabriel B. Eber
The Health of America’s Aging Prison Population
Johns Hopkins Medicine|Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University|American Civil Liberties Union
older incarcerated individuals comprise fastest growing demographic us prison system unhealthy lifestyles among incarcerated individuals inadequate health care lead earlier onset rapid progression many chronic conditions prevalent among communityliving older adults limited peerreviewed epidemiologic data area however growing interest identifying strategies housing aging incarcerated individuals delivering appropriate health care prisons coordinating afterrelease health care systematic review summarize epidemiologic evidence health challenges facing aging us prison population comprehensive literature search focused health outcomes including diseases comorbid conditions mental health cognition mobility 12486 articles identified literature search reviewed 21 studies published 2007 2017 studies observational crosssectional n 17 based regional samples sample sizes varied widely ranging 25 14499 incarcerated people median 258 general compared younger counterparts older incarcerated individuals reported high rates diabetes mellitus cardiovascular conditions liver disease mental health problems common especially anxiety fear desire death suicide depression activities daily living challenging onefifth population found empirical data cognition among older incarcerated individuals findings review reveal empirical data area highlight need new data drive policy practice patterns address critical health issues related aging prison population