Recent research indicates that there were more than 32.5 million deaths worldwide in 2019 due to selected types of chronic diseases. Cardiovascular diseases alone accounted for 17.9 million deaths, while cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes made up the rest. However, numerous other chronic diseases, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, depression and eczema, are also affecting people everywhere, and their effects can also impact the global economy. According to Statista, chronic diseases have far-reaching consequences for people (through their impact on life quality and span), and for societies and governments everywhere.
Although chronic diseases are by no means a new issue impacting various societies around the world, they can pose an immense economic burden, especially in low and middle-income countries. Countries that are already struggling to cover their healthcare costs, and which are also likely to struggle with dwindling workforces in the future, are now among the most affected. However, not only does the majority of the world’s population continue to live in these low and middle-income countries, but higher income countries are also severely impacted by chronic diseases. In fact, the leading causes of death in higher income countries are cardiovascular disease and cancer, both of which are chronic diseases.
The Impact of Chronic Diseases Worldwide
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic diseases are now the leading cause of adult illness and death in all regions of the world. Despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly caused numerous deaths, illnesses, and hospitalizations over the past two years, the impact of chronic diseases worldwide is undeniable. The WHO recommends making healthcare more widely available, including chronic disease prevention, as this could help reduce poverty and eliminate hunger worldwide. If low and middle-income countries were freed from the devastating economic consequences of ineffective chronic disease control, they would have a better chance of fighting poverty and hunger.
The economic impact of chronic diseases is not only felt by societies and governments everywhere, but also at the individual level, by people around the world. Because poor people are more likely to develop chronic diseases than the rich people, these diseases can cause significant financial burdens and even push individuals or entire families into poverty. For this very reason, those who say that chronic disease prevention and control solutions are too expensive to be feasible for low and middle-income countries may be wrong. According to the WHO, chronic disease interventions are not only cost-effective in all regions of the world, but preventing chronic diseases is actually more economical than treating them.
Fighting the Leading Causes of Death in the US
According to a recent JAMA Network study, two of the best-known chronic diseases were the leading causes of death in the US in 2020. Heart disease and cancer accounted for 1.29 million deaths among Americans, while COVID-19 accounted for 350,000 deaths during the same year. However, the healthcare crisis is believed to have indirectly led to an increase in other causes of death, including heart disease and diabetes. The research also points out that, between March 2020 and October 2021, heart disease (20.1%), cancer (17.5%), and COVID-19 (12.2%) continued to be the leading causes of death in the US, followed by accidents and strokes.
This is precisely why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is prompting Americans to stop or at least reduce risk behaviors, such as tobacco use, unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical activity, and excessive alcohol consumption. Chronic diseases are not only the leading cause of death and disability in the US, but they are also the leading drivers of the nation’s $4.1 trillion in annual healthcare costs, according to the CDC. According to the public health organization, nearly $173 billion a year is spent on annually on obesity treatment alone. Yet, this chronic disease could be prevented by promoting healthy eating habits and physical activity.
Building a Better Future in Healthcare
Rebuilding the future of US healthcare is by no means an easy task, but taking important steps to prevent chronic diseases is a good start. Considering the immense threat they pose to people’s health and well-being, as well as their numerous economic consequences, chronic diseases should be prevented from becoming an even greater burden in the future.
