Chronic Disease Overview

On this page—

• Costs of Chronic Disease
• Related Information

The profile of diseases contributing most heavily to death, illness, and disability among Americans changed dramatically during the last century. Today, chronic diseases—such as cardiovascular disease (primarily heart disease and stroke), cancer, and diabetes—are among the most prevalent, costly, and preventable of all health problems. Seven of every 10 Americans who die each year, or more than 1.7 million people, die of a chronic disease. The prolonged course of illness and disability from such chronic diseases as diabetes and arthritis results in extended pain and suffering and decreased quality of life for millions of Americans. Chronic, disabling conditions cause major limitations in activity for more than one of every 10 Americans, or 25 million people

(Text description of this chart is also available.)

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.
• Each year, arthritis results in estimated medical care costs of nearly $81 billion, and estimated total costs (medical care and lost productivity) of $128 billion.
• The estimated direct and indirect costs associated with smoking exceed $193 billion annually.
• In 2008, the cost of heart disease and stroke in the U.S. is projected to be $448 billion.
• The estimated total costs of obesity was nearly $117 billion in 2000.
• Cancer costs the nation an estimated $89 billion annually in direct medical costs.
• Nearly $98.6 billion is spent on dental services each year.

Back To Top

Related Information

• Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

• Genomics and Disease Prevention

Back To Top

Page last reviewed: March 20, 2008
Page last modified: October 7, 2009
Content source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion