Today, 133 million people – almost half of all Americans, live with a chronic condition. It is estimated by the year 2020 as the population ages, the number will increase to 157 million.  By 2030, half the population will have one or more chronic conditions.¹

Chronic conditions are defined as health concerns that are expected to last a year or more and limit what one can do or require ongoing medical care. Examples of chronic conditions include diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of chronic conditions is growing in the United States.

People with chronic conditions represent all segments of our society – all ages, races and economic status.  Many have multiple chronic conditions, including functional limitations and disabilities. Diseases that cause acute illness have become, in large part, long-term chronic conditions that require ongoing monitoring and treatment.   Diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, for example, can result in acute illness if not properly monitored and treated over time.

The Cost Impact of Chronic Conditions
The cost of healthcare to treat chronic conditions is high. The bulk of annual healthcare expenditures are for chronic conditions.

Annual Healthcare Expenditures
(Billions)

(Source: Centers for Disease Control, 2004)

Chronic Conditions - U.S. Prevalence and Expenditures Disease State Prevalence (millions) Total Expenditures per Year (billions) Direct* Expenditures per Year (billions) Total Indirect** Expenditures per Year (billions) CAD 13.2 $142.5 $75.2 $67.3 Diabetes (1) 20.8 $132.0 $91.8 $40.2 Hypertension 65.0 $63.5 $47.5 $16.0 COPD (2) 10.7 $37.2 $20.9 $16.3 CHF 5.0 $29.6 $26.8 $2.8 Asthma (adults & children) (3) 26.1 $16.1 $11.5 $4.6

Notes:

*Direct expenditures: hospitals, physicians nursing home, drugs, etc.

**Indirect expenditures: lost productivity resulting from morbidity and/or mortality.

(1) 14.6 million people are diagnosed and 6.2 million are undiagnosed with diabetes.

(2) COPD includes chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive bronchitis, or emphysema, or combinations of these conditions. Close to 24 million US adults have evidence of impaired lung function, indicating an underdiagnosis of COPD..

(3) 20 million adults and 6.1 million children under age 18 have asthma.

References:

• Asthma:  American Lung Association. Asthma in Adults Fact Sheet, Asthma & Children Fact Sheet, July 2005.
• CAD/CHF/Hypertension:  American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2006 Update.
• COPD:  American Lung Association, COPD Fact Sheet, July 2005.
• Diabetes: American Diabetes Association, National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2005.

¹Partnership for Solutions, 2004 Update