Chronic condition
Chronic conditions are persistent health states lasting over three months.
A chronic condition, sometimes called a chronic disease or chronic illness, is a health problem that lasts for a long time or has ongoing effects. Doctors typically use the term "chronic" when a condition continues for more than three months. Common examples include diabetes, functional gastrointestinal disorder, eczema, arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, autoimmune diseases, genetic disorders, and certain viral infections like acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Chronic illnesses are often compared to terminal illnesses, which will eventually cause death. However, as medicine improves, some conditions once considered terminal can become chronic. For instance, type 1 diabetes and HIV used to be fatal, but now daily medications let people live with them while managing symptoms, so they are classified as chronic.
In medicine, chronic conditions are different from acute ones. An acute condition usually affects someone for a few days to a few weeks, while a chronic condition lasts for a long time or a lifetime, even with treatment. Chronic conditions can have periods of remission, when a person has few or no symptoms, and relapse, when symptoms return. These cycles are often discussed in relation to substance abuse disorders, which some experts consider chronic conditions.
Many chronic conditions are non-communicable diseases—they are not caused by infection and cannot spread between people. But some chronic conditions, like HIV/AIDS, come from transmissible infections. Worldwide, 63% of all deaths are due to chronic conditions. These diseases are a major cause of death, and the World Health Organization reports that 38 million deaths each year are from non-communicable diseases. In the United States, about 40% of adults have at least two chronic conditions. Having more than one is called multimorbidity.
Types
Chronic conditions cover a wide range of health states, including syndromes, physical impairments, disabilities, and diseases. Epidemiologists study them because they contribute to illness, disability, and reduced physical or mental ability. For example, high blood pressure (hypertension) is both a chronic condition itself and a risk factor for diseases like heart attack or stroke. Researchers, especially in the U.S., use the Chronic Condition Indicator (CCI) to classify ICD codes as "chronic" or "non-chronic." In 2015, the World
- Definition
- Health condition lasting more than three months
- Global deaths
- 63% of all deaths worldwide are from chronic conditions
- WHO annual deaths from non-communicable
- 38 million deaths a year
- US adults with at least two chronic cond
- Approximately 40%
- US health care spending for chronic cond
- 84% of all health care spending in 2006
Lore & Background
In medicine, chronic conditions are distinguished from those that are acute. An acute condition typically affects a person for a few days to several weeks, whereas a chronic condition persists for an extended period of time or is lifelong, even with treatment. Chronic conditions may have periods of remission, where a person has few or no symptoms, and relapse, where symptoms reappear. Periods of remission and relapse are commonly discussed when referring to substance abuse disorders, which some consider to fall under the category of chronic condition. Chronic conditions are often non-communicable diseases, that are not caused by infection and cannot spread between people. However, some chronic conditions are caused by transmissible infections such as HIV/AIDS.
Reader's Guide
Chronic conditions constitute a major cause of mortality, and the World Health Organization (WHO) attributes 38 million deaths a year to non-communicable diseases. In the United States approximately 40% of adults have at least two chronic conditions. Having more than one chronic condition is referred to as multimorbidity. While risk factors vary, many common chronic diseases are caused by dietary, lifestyle, and metabolic risk factors. Therefore, these conditions might be prevented by behavioral changes, such as quitting smoking, adopting a healthy diet, and increasing physical activity. Social determinants are important risk factors for chronic diseases. Social factors, e.g., socioeconomic status, education level, and race/ethnicity, are a major cause for the disparities observed in the care of chronic disease. Lack of access and delay in receiving care result in worse outcomes for patients from minorities and underserved populations. Those barriers to medical care complicate patients monitoring and continuity in treatment. In the US, minorities and low-income populations are less likely to seek, access and receive preventive services necessary to detect conditions at an early stage. A growing body of evidence supports that prevention is effective in reducing the effect of chronic conditions; in particular, early detection results in less severe outcomes.
Did You Know?
- 63% of all deaths worldwide are from chronic conditions.
- Type 1 diabetes and HIV were once terminal but are now considered chronic illnesses due to daily medications.
- In the United States, approximately 40% of adults have at least two chronic conditions.
- Chronic conditions may have periods of remission and relapse.
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