26-05-2012, 03:45 PM
The Almanac of Chronic Disease
Chronic Disease.ppt (Size: 1.52 MB / Downloads: 176)
Table of Contents
The Human Cost Today
The Economic Cost Today
The Cost Tomorrow
Opportunity for Improvement
Understanding of the Problem and Support for Change
Chapter One: The Human Cost Today
Introduction:
Chronic diseases are a significant problem in the United States, accounting for many of the most prevalent and costly illnesses that affect Americans. More than 133 million Americans, or 45 percent of the population, have at least one chronic condition. These conditions include arthritis, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular (heart) disease, depression and diabetes, though these are only a few of many chronic illnesses that negatively impact the lives of Americans.
Many chronic diseases are caused or exacerbated by poor nutrition, lack of exercise, smoking and other lifestyle choices. As a result of these factors, as well as a lack of emphasis on preventive care, incidence rates of chronic disease have increased substantially over the last two decades. Risk factors like obesity are also on the rise. Since 1980, obesity rates have increased 250 percent, now affecting 71 million Americans. This has tremendous implications for future generations; for example, it is predicted that 1 in 3 children born in 2000 will develop diabetes over the course of their lives, given current trends in overweight and obesity.
Not surprisingly, chronic diseases have become the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Seven out of every 10 deaths are attributable to chronic disease, and illnesses like heart disease and cancer top the list of most common causes of death. Minority populations are often disproportionately impacted by chronic disease, with African Americans and Hispanics often 1.5 to 2 times more likely to have a certain condition than their white counterparts.
Chapter Two: The Economic Cost Today
Introduction
Chronic diseases are at the root of a significant portion of rising health care costs. About two-thirds of the rise in health care spending over the last two decades is due to the rise in treated rates of chronic disease. In addition, the vast majority of current spending is for treatment of Americans with one or more chronic conditions. Indeed, more than 75 percent of the approximately $2 trillion Americans spend each year on health care is spent on chronic diseases, and public health programs like Medicare and Medicaid are seeing sizable portions of their budget devoted to treatment of chronic diseases and complications from those conditions.
But direct health care costs represent only a quarter of the total cost of chronic diseases. Indirect costs such as absenteeism and presenteeism* cost businesses – and our economy -- $1 trillion a year. Every year, millions of work days are missed because employees are suffering themselves from a chronic disease, or they have to care for a loved one who is ill.
*Presenteeism is defined as lost productivity that occurs when employees come to work but perform below par due to any kind of illness.
Chapter Three: The Cost Tomorrow
Introduction:
While chronic diseases exact a huge toll on Americans today, the future is even more troubling. Over the next 15 years, the prevalence of chronic conditions in the U.S. is expected to rise dramatically. According to a study by the Milken Institute, there will be 230 million reported cases of chronic disease in 2023, an increase of 42 percent from 2003. Cases of cancer, diabetes and mental disorders are expected to rise most substantially, by 53 to 60 percent per illness. In addition, the number of obese Americans, currently one third of the total population, is also projected to increase. By the year 2015, it is predicted that 75 percent of Americans will be obese, significantly contributing to the rise in chronic illnesses.
Indeed, if current U.S. health trends continue, the results could be catastrophic for future generations, the health care system and the economy. Without immediate focus on prevention, the direct and indirect costs of chronic diseases are predicted to grow exponentially. Research has shown that, if left unchecked, chronic conditions will cost the U.S. economy over $4.1 trillion annually in treatment expenditures and lost economic output by the year 2023. Certain diseases, like heart disease and cancers, will be the most costly.
Chapter Four: Opportunity for Improvement
Introduction:
Right now, far too little is being invested in improving Americans’ health and effectively preventing and managing common and costly chronic health problems. In an average year, the U.S. spends less than $10 per person on prevention -- about the same amount of money as a single movie ticket costs in many places in the U.S.!
Improvements in personal health behaviors, investment by business and the health care system in population health improvement could save millions of lives, and trillions of dollars. By the year 2023, the U.S. could save over $1 trillion through investing in prevention, mostly by reducing indirect costs of chronic health problems, such as absenteeism and presenteeism.
Chapter Five: Understanding of the Problem and Support for Change
Introduction:
As Americans look to choose their next president, health care is the domestic issue they want to hear candidates discuss. While many Americans are interested in hearing about how candidates plan to improve access to care and cover the uninsured, in particular, they want to know what the next president will do to make health care more affordable. Perhaps this is not surprising given the fact that surveys have shown that Americans are very concerned about increases in health insurance premiums and the amount they will pay in out-of-pocket health care expenses.
Despite the significant role that chronic diseases play in contributing to health care spending and deaths in the U.S., many Americans do not understand the extent or scope of the problem. Still, they recognize that something must be done to address the unchecked rise in chronic disease, and the vast majority suggest that this is an issue they want the next president to address.
Americans believe that access to care is an important factor that must be considered when addressing how to reduce problems with chronic disease. They strongly support increasing the share of health care dollars devoted to prevention and endorse policies that change the focus of health care to promoting health and wellness, instead of just treating illness after it occurs.