“Chronic conditions are costly and major causes of death and disability. Addressing conditions earlier in adulthood can slow disease progression and improve well-being across the lifespan. We estimated, by life stage, 10-year trends among US adults in the prevalence of 1 or more chronic conditions, multiple chronic conditions (MCC; ≥2 conditions), and 12 selected chronic conditions.
Approximately 6 in 10 young, 8 in 10 midlife, and 9 in 10 older US adults report 1 or more chronic conditions. Trends in conditions worsened among young adults during 2013–2023. Recognizing the burden of chronic disease throughout life stages, especially earlier in life, practitioners and partners may consider prevention and management approaches critical for addressing costs, care, and health outcomes. Practitioners may also consider tailoring these approaches to unique roles, transitions, and challenges in different life stages.
Chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are costly and major causes of death and disability in the US (1,2). Over the past 20 years, the prevalence of chronic conditions has increased steadily, and this trend is expected to continue (3–5).
In 2018, more than half of US adults had at least 1 chronic condition, and more than one-quarter had 2 or more chronic conditions (6). In 2016, the total direct health care costs in the US for the treatment of chronic health conditions was $1.1 trillion (7). In addition to financial costs, increased death, and disability, the burden of chronic conditions includes decreased quality of life (8), increased health care utilization (8,9), lost productivity in the workforce (10), and loss in functioning (eg, social and leisure activities) (11).
In 2023, approximately 194 million American adults, and 6 in 10 young adults, 8 in 10 midlife adults, and 9 in 10 older adults reported 1 or more conditions. Prevalence of chronic conditions increased by 7.0 percentage points among young adults from 2013 to 2023.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (Trends in Multiple Chronic Conditions Among US Adults, By Life Stage, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2013–2023)