Chronic illnesses are a major health problem in all developed countries, accounting for a high proportion of deaths, disability and illness, and they are an increasing problem in developing countries.
Many chronic illnesses are preventable, or their onset can be delayed, by relatively simple measures.
The increasing prevalence of risk factors such as obesity and chronic illnesses such as depression requires a multifaceted response involving both prevention and management strategies within the health system and across a range of other jurisdictions.
Diabetes is a serious, complex and continuing illness which is characterised by high blood sugar (glucose) levels. There are three main types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is autoimmune in origin and most commonly occurs in children and young adults but may occur at any age. It is also known as insulin dependent diabetes because people with this condition are dependent on insulin injections for survival.
Type 2 diabetes results from a combination of genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors. It usually occurs from mature adulthood onwards with the prevalence increasing with age. However, it is increasingly occurring in young adults and occasionally in children. People with type 2 diabetes can be treated with lifestyle modification but may need tablets of insulin to control their blood sugars. Hence it is sometimes called non-insulin dependent diabetes.
Gestational diabetes (GDM) is simply defined as diabetes first diagnosed during pregnancy. While GDM usually ‘reverses’ soon after the delivery, it poses a long term risk of diabetes for both the mother and baby.
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a condition where the pumping action of the heart is sub-optimal. It can result from a variety of diseases that damage or overload the heart, notably heart attack, high blood pressure or a damaged heart valve.
Heart failure is a major cause of illness and the third largest cause of death among heart, stroke and vascular diseases. Improved awareness, diagnosis, treatment, data and research are needed.
Mirzaei M, Yen L, Leeder SR. Epidemiology of chronic heart failure. The Serious and Continuing Illness Policy and Practice Study (SCIPPS), The Menzies Centre for Health Policy, 2007.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is comprised primarily of two related diseases - chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In both diseases, there is chronic obstruction of the flow of air through the airways and out of the lungs, and the obstruction generally is permanent and progressive over time.
The current misdiagnosis, misclassification and masking of the diagnosis of COPD by other co-morbid illnesses leads to a major underestimate of the economic burden of COPD. The enormous burden on carers represents a hidden/additional cost not accounted for in the current cost estimates.
Essue B, Yen L, Usherwood T, Glasgow N, Leeder SR. Epidemiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Serious and Continuing Illness Policy and Practice Study (SCIPPS), The Menzies Centre for Health Policy, 2007.
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