Chronic Disease Prevalence? What can we do to improve as a Global Society?
Chronic disease prevalence is rising globally, significantly increasing deaths and healthcare costs; more than half of US adults have at least one chronic condition, and these conditions represent a major global health burden, causing 74% of worldwide deaths in 2019. Over 90% of adults aged 65+ in the US have a chronic condition, with prevalence also higher in rural areas, women, and lower-income groups. The trend is expected to continue, with a projected significant increase in the number of adults with chronic conditions and multi-morbidity by 2050.
Global Overview
Major Cause of Death:
Chronic diseases were responsible for 74% of all deaths worldwide in 2019, a figure that has been steadily increasing.
Health and Economic Burden:
These conditions are a major source of disability and impose enormous costs on healthcare systems, with US healthcare costs for chronic disease treatment reaching $1.1 trillion in 2016.
Rising Trend:
The prevalence of chronic conditions has shown a steady increase over the past two decades, and this trend is projected to continue.
United States Trends and Demographics
More than half of US adults had at least one chronic condition in 2018, and over a quarter had two or more.
Prevalence increases with age, with more than 90% of adults 65 and older having at least one chronic condition.
Prevalence is higher among women, non-Hispanic white adults, and residents of rural areas compared to urban areas.
Adults on public insurance have a higher prevalence of chronic conditions than those on private or no insurance, and lower-income groups report higher rates of chronic conditions.
Future Projections
Growing Burden:
Projections indicate a significant increase in chronic disease burden, with the number of adults aged 50 and older with at least one chronic condition expected to nearly double by 2050.
Aging Population:
The aging of populations worldwide is a key driver of the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions, putting further pressure on health systems to manage these complex needs.
What can we do to improve as a Global Society?
To address the global chronic disease epidemic, a whole-of-society approach is needed, focusing on prevention through promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing modifiable risk factors like poor diet and lack of physical activity.
Key interventions include population-wide awareness campaigns, enacting policies such as taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy foods, and improving access to screening, diagnosis, and affordable, quality treatment through strengthened primary healthcare systems.
Prevention Strategies
Promote Healthy Lifestyles:
Encourage physical activity and healthy eating through improved access to safe spaces for exercise and healthy food options.
Reduce Risk Factors:
Implement policies to decrease the levels of salt, sugar, and fats in processed foods, and tax tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks to disincentivize consumption.
Targeted Prevention Programs:
Strengthen early care and education settings to promote healthy weight, and scale up family-centered healthy weight programs.
Support Breastfeeding:
Implement supportive policies and community programs to make it easier for mothers to start and sustain breastfeeding.
Detection and Treatment
Strengthen Primary Care:
Invest in primary healthcare systems to provide early detection, screening, diagnosis, and timely treatment for chronic diseases.
Increase Access to Care:
Ensure universal access to affordable, safe, and effective diagnostic and treatment services, including essential NCD interventions, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Leverage Technology:
Utilize mobile health (mHealth) platforms for diabetes self-management to provide education and track patient progress,.
Policy and Systemic Changes
Multi-sectoral Collaboration:
Foster a comprehensive approach involving various sectors, including health, education, finance, transport, and agriculture, to address NCD risk factors.
Investment in Research:
Make sustained and substantial investments in global health research to build collaborative platforms for NCD research and interventions.
Public Awareness:
Conduct awareness campaigns about the risks of chronic diseases and the importance of prevention and management.
