Costs of Chronic Disease

The United States cannot effectively address escalating health care costs without addressing the problem of chronic diseases: 

In 2005, 133 million people, almost half of all Americans lived with at least one chronic condition.

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

The medical care costs of people with chronic diseases account for more than 75% of the nation’s $2 trillion medical care costs.

Chronic diseases account for one-third of the years of potential life lost before age 65.

Hospitalizations for pregnancy-related complications occurring before delivery account for more than $1 billion annually.

The direct and indirect costs of diabetes is $174 billion a year.