Chronic care

Chronic care refers to medical care which addresses pre-existing or long-term illness, as opposed to acute care which is concerned with short term or severe illness of brief duration. Chronic medical conditions include asthma, diabetes, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, congestive heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver, hypertension and depression. Without effective treatment chronic conditions may lead to disability.

The incidence of chronic disease has increased as mortality rates have decreased.[1] It is estimated that by 2030 half of the population of the USA will have one or more chronic conditions.[2]

According to the CDC, 6 out of 10 adults in the U.S. are managing at least one chronic disease and 42% of adults have two or more chronic conditions.[3]

Conditions, injuries and diseases which were previously fatal can now be treated with chronic care. Chronic care aims to maintain wellness by keeping symptoms in remission while balancing treatment regimes and quality of life.[1] Many of the core functions of primary health care are central to chronic care.[4] Chronic care is complex in nature because it may extend over a pro-longed period of time, requires input from a diverse set of health professionals, various medications and possibly monitoring equipment.[5]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference chroncity was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference mtcfoc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Chronic Diseases in America". CDC. CDC. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  4. ^ Kane, Robert L.; Reinhard Priester; Annette M. Totten (2005). Meeting the Challenge of Chronic Illness. JHU Press. p. 93. ISBN 0801882095. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  5. ^ Ellen, Nolte; Cécile Knai; Martin McKee (2008). Managing Chronic Conditions: Experience in Eight Countries. WHO Regional Office Europe. p. 2. ISBN 978-9289042949. Retrieved 11 March 2014.