More seniors are developing multiple chronic conditions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a data brief on the results from a National Center for Health Statistics surveys of adults aged 45 and over on the presence of multiple chronic conditions (MCC).

Respondents to The National Health Interview Survey (1999-2000 and 2009-2201) self-reported on the combination of nine MCCs (hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, current asthma and kidney disease) affecting their health status.

The most common combinations of chronic conditions—hypertension and diabetes, hypertension and heart disease and hypertension and cancer—increased during that 10-year period.  It is also noted that during the survey period, hypertension increased from 35 to 41 percent, diabetes from 10 to 15 percent and cancer jumped from 9 to 11 percent.

Researchers advise that the report has limitations because it is based on respondent-information regarding a physician’s diagnosis.

Researchers suggest that the increasing prevalence of MCC will present quality-of-life and financial challenges to the United States healthcare system.

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