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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic condition | 4/6 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_condition | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T07:27:07.415511+00:00 | kb-cron |
=== United States === As of 2003, there are a few programs which aim to gain more knowledge on the epidemiology of chronic disease using data collection. The hope of these programs is to gather epidemiological data on various chronic diseases across the United States and demonstrate how this knowledge can be valuable in addressing chronic disease. In the United States, as of 2004 nearly one in two Americans (133 million) has at least one chronic medical condition, with most subjects (58%) between the ages of 18 and 64. The number is projected to increase by more than one percent per year by 2030, resulting in an estimated chronically ill population of 171 million. The most common chronic conditions are high blood pressure, arthritis, respiratory diseases like emphysema, and high cholesterol. Based on data from 2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), about 60% of adult Americans were estimated to have one chronic illness, with about 40% having more than one; this rate appears to be mostly unchanged from 2008. MEPS data from 1998 showed 45% of adult Americans had at least one chronic illness, and 21% had more than one. According to research by the CDC, chronic disease is also especially a concern in the elderly population in America. Chronic diseases like stroke, heart disease, and cancer were among the leading causes of death among Americans aged 65 or older in 2002, accounting for 61% of all deaths among this subset of the population. It is estimated that at least 80% of older Americans are currently living with some form of a chronic condition, with 50% of this population having two or more chronic conditions. The two most common chronic conditions in the elderly are high blood pressure and arthritis, with diabetes, coronary heart disease, and cancer also being reported among the elder population. In examining the statistics of chronic disease among the living elderly, it is also important to make note of the statistics pertaining to fatalities as a result of chronic disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death from chronic disease for adults older than 65, followed by cancer, stroke, diabetes, chronic lower respiratory diseases, influenza and pneumonia, and, finally, Alzheimer's disease. Though the rates of chronic disease differ by race for those living with chronic illness, the statistics for leading causes of death among elderly are nearly identical across racial/ethnic groups. Chronic illnesses cause about 70% of deaths in the US and in 2002 chronic conditions (heart disease, cancers, stroke, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, mental illness and kidney diseases) were six of the top ten causes of mortality in the general US population.
=== Canada === The government of Canada put a high emphasis on chronic conditions in the country. At least 45.1% of Canadians will experience one chronic condition in their lifetime. On 11 December 2024, Sun Life, a prominent health insurance provider in Canada, reported an increase in chronic diseases across all age groups. They emphasize that chronic conditions affect both young individuals and the elderly. Sun Life highlights that a growing number of young people are facing chronic issues such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels. The report examined drug claims for chronic conditions from over three million Sun Life plan members. Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing chronic conditions in Canada, having increased by approximately 30% from 2019 to 2023. Claims for diabetes medications have surged more rapidly among Canadians under the age of 30. Chronic diseases are prevalent among older Canadians. A report indicates that 73% of individuals aged 65 and older have at least one of ten common chronic conditions. The ten most frequent chronic diseases in Canada include hypertension, affecting 65.7% of the elderly, periodontal disease at 52.0%, osteoarthritis at 38.0%, ischemic heart disease at 27.0%, diabetes at 26.8%, osteoporosis at 25.1%, cancer at 21.5%, COPD at 20.2%, asthma at 10.7%, and mood and anxiety disorders at 10.5%. Additionally, COVID-19 has impacted chronic conditions in seniors, and its effects are currently being studied.
== Economic impact ==
=== United States === Chronic diseases are a major factor in the continuous growth of medical care spending. In 2002, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated that the health care for chronic diseases cost the most among all health problems in the U.S. Healthy People 2010 reported that more than 75% of the $2 trillion spent annually in U.S. medical care are due to chronic conditions; spending are even higher in proportion for Medicare beneficiaries (aged 65 years and older). Furthermore, in 2017 it was estimated that 90% of the $3.3 billion spent on healthcare in the United States was due to the treatment of chronic diseases and conditions. Spending growth is driven in part by the greater prevalence of chronic illnesses and the longer life expectancy of the population. Also, improvement in treatments has significantly extended the lifespans of patients with chronic diseases but results in additional costs over long period of time. A striking success is the development of combined antiviral therapies that led to remarkable improvement in survival rates and quality of life of HIV-infected patients. In addition to direct costs in health care, chronic diseases are a significant burden to the economy, through limitations in daily activities, loss in productivity and loss of days of work. A particular concern is the rising rates of overweight and obesity in all segments of the U.S. population. Obesity itself is a medical condition and not a disease, but it constitutes a major risk factor for developing chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease and cancers. Obesity results in significant health care spending and indirect costs, as illustrated by a recent study from the Texas comptroller reporting that obesity alone cost Texas businesses an extra $9.5 billion in 2009, including more than $4 billion for health care, $5 billion for lost productivity and absenteeism, and $321 million for disability.