Chronic Diseases in the United States
- Chronic diseases account for 70 percent of all deaths in the United States and the medical care costs account for more than 60 percent of the nation's medical care costs.
- More than 90 million Americans live with chronic illnesses.
- Chronic diseases are long-term illnesses that are rarely cured completely. Most chronic diseases can be prevented or improved by avoiding risky behaviors such as smoking and poor nutrition, or by increasing physical activity and obtaining life-saving screening services.
- Cardiovascular disease - principally high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke - is the leading cause of death among men and women.
- An estimated 16 million Americans have diabetes, and about one-third of them are unaware of it. Diabetes accounts for more than $98 billion in direct and indirect medical costs and lost productivity each year.
- Osteoporosis results in more than 1.5 million fractures each year and the estimated annual direct expenditure for osteoporosis and related fractures is $14 billion.
- An estimated 62 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese. About 13 percent of children and adolescents are now overweight.
- In addition to the financial costs, chronic diseases account for one-third of the years of potential life lost before age 65; and chronic diseases are among the leading causes of disability among U.S. adults.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002. Chronic Care in America: A 21st Century Challenge, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, November 1996.
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For information: health-info@ncsl.org
National Conference of State Legislatures
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