More Americans Getting Multiple Chronic Illnesses
http://www.truthout.org/011209HA
Washington - More Americans are burdened by chronic illnesses such as
diabetes and high blood pressure, often having more than three at a
time, and this has helped fuel a big rise in out-of-pocket medical
expenses, a study released on Tuesday showed.
With prescription drugs playing a key role, average annual out-
of-
pocket medical costs - those not covered by health insurance - rose
from $427 per American in 1996 to $741 in 2005, researchers wrote in
the journal Health Affairs.
Adjusting for inflation, that translated to 39 percent more in
out-
of-pocket spending per person over that time, according to Kathryn
Paez of Maryland-based health research organization Social &
Scientific Systems Inc. and colleagues.
The figures were much higher among the elderly. For example, a
person insured through the Medicare program for those 65 and older
who
had three or more chronic conditions paid an average of $2,588 of
out-
of-pocket medical expenses.
A separate report published in the journal on Tuesday showed U.S.
health care spending rose to $2.2 trillion in 2007, or $7,421 per
person.
Based on government survey data, 44 percent of Americans in 2005
had at least one chronic medical condition, which could include
diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, cancer,
arthritis, heart failure and others. That compares to 41 percent in
1996.
The study did not look directly at the causes of the increases,
but there appear to be several factors.
The rise in Americans with multiple chronic illnesses comes as
obesity and sedentary lifestyles have grown more common. Obesity
contributes to many chronic ailments including diabetes. U.S. health
officials say the rate of new cases of diabetes soared by about 90
percent in the past decade.
Triple Burden
But the percentage of Americans with three or more chronic
illnesses rose even more sharply.
It jumped from 13 percent in 1996 to 22 percent in 2005 for ages
45 to 64, to 45 percent for ages 65 to 79, and rose from 38 percent
to
54 percent for those 80 and older. Among all ages, it went from 7
percent in 1996 to 13 percent in 2005.
"The burden of chronic conditions is becoming heavier. People who
already have chronic conditions no longer just have one. Now they
might have three," Paez said in a telephone interview.
Chronic disease accounts for three-fourths of the more than $2
trillion spent on health care yearly in the United States.
The chronic disease increase was seen not just among the very
oldest age groups but also in middle age and early old age -
regardless of sex, race, ethnicity and income level.
President-elect Barack Obama takes office on January 20 with
plans
to try to tackle the rising costs of the U.S. health care system, the
world's most expensive. This study suggests that growing amounts of
chronic illness may complicate his efforts.
The increase in out-of-pocket medical expenses reflects not only
more chronic illness, but likely other factors as well, including
worrisome levels of people with no medical insurance as well as
reduced coverage from some employers, Paez said.
The higher costs may make it harder for some people to pay for
needed medications - and they may not stay on them or skip doses,
worsening their medical problems, Paez added.
The findings were based on nationally representative surveys of
about 32,000 people in 2005 and 22,000 people in 1996.
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