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Most American
Adults have at least one Chronic medical
condition
Newswise — About six of
every 10 people in the United States age 18
and older have at least one chronic medical
condition, according to the latest News and
Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare
Research ands Quality.
A chronic condition is one that can be
expected to last at least one year and
result in limitations or the need for
ongoing medical care.
For example, in 2005 about 22 million
Americans received medical care for
osteoarthritis and related conditions, 49
million for asthma or chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, 17 million for diabetes,
45 million for high blood pressure, and 19
million for heart disease, according to
AHRQ.
When AHRQ analyzed chronic
conditions as a whole in 2005, it found
that:
• Nearly 4 in 10 Americans between 18 and 34
years of age had at least one chronic
condition, as did 9 of every 10 aged 65 and
older.
• About 77 percent of Americans aged 65 and
older had two or more chronic conditions.
Only 14 percent of those 18 to 34 had two or
more conditions.
• Nine of every 10 dollars spent for medical
care (excluding expenses for dental care and
medical equipment and supplies) on adults in
the United States was spent to treat persons
with chronic conditions.
AHRQ, which is part of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, works to enhance the quality,
safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of
health care in the United States. The data
in this AHRQ News and Numbers summary are
taken from the Medical Expenditure Panel
Survey, a detailed source of information on
the health services used by Americans, the
frequency with which they are used, the cost
of those services, and how they are paid.
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