Chronic Disease Prevention

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About Chronic Disease

Definition

Broad definition of chronic disease: Illnesses that are prolonged, do not

resolve spontaneously, and are rarely cured completely.

Chronic diseases targeted by CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease

Prevention and Health Promotion are those illnesses that fit the broad

definition of chronic disease, that are preventable, and that pose a

significant burden in mortality, morbidity, and cost.

Overall Burden

Costs of Chronic Disease

The United States cannot effectively address escalating health care costs

without addressing the prevention of chronic diseases

More than 90 million Americans live with chronic illnesses

Chronic diseases account for 70% of all deaths in the United States

The medical care cost of people with chronic diseases now account for more

than 60% of the nation's medical-care costs.

Chronic diseases account for one third of the years of potential life lost

before age 65

The Wood Foundation, Annual Report 1994; Health, United

States, 1994

Burden of Chronic Diseases on Minority Populations

Chronic disease has an excessive impact on minority populations

The prevalence of diabetes among African Americans is about 70% higher than

among white Americans, and the prevalence among Hispanics is nearly double

that for white Americans. The prevalence of diabetes among American Indian

and Alaska Natives is more than twice that for the total population

Infant mortality rates are twice as high for African Americans as for white

Americans, chiefly because of low birthweight and prematurity from preterm

delivery

The 5-year survival rate for cancer among African Americans diagnosed for

1986-1992 was about 44%, compared with 59% for white Americans. A

considerable part of this difference in survival can be attributed to late

diagnosis

Physical inactivity is more prevalent among African Americans and Hispanic

Americans than among white Americans

More than half of all deaths from cardiovascular disease each year occur

among women

Cost-Effectiveness of Prevention

Practical interventions exist for controlling and preventing many chronic

diseases

Proven clinical smoking cessation interventions would cost $2,321 for each

year of life saved

Each $1 spent on diabetes outpatient education saves $2 to $3 in

hospitalization costs

Mammography screening, when performed every 2 years for women aged 50-69

years, costs between $8,280-$9,890 per year of life saved The cost of this

screening compares favorably with other widely used clinical preventive

services

Cervical cancer screening among low-income elderly women is estimated to

save 3.7 years of life and $5,907 for every 100 Pap tests performed

The cost of preventing one cavity through fluoridation is $3, far below the

average $55 cost of a dental restoration

For every $1 spent on preconception care programs for women with preexisting

diabetes, $1.86 can be saved by preventing birth defects

Participants in the arthritis self-help course experienced an 18% reduction

in pain at a per-person savings of $267 in health care system costs over a

four-year period.