AHRQ Stats: Chronic Health Conditions

One in four Americans received treatment for at least two chronic health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension in 2012. Collectively, chronic care treatment accounted for 57 percent of all health care expenditures that year. (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #485: Health Expenditures For Adults by Number of Treated Chronic Conditions, Race/Ethnicity, and Age, 2012.)

STATISTICAL BRIEF #485:
Health Expenditures for Adults by Number of Treated Chronic Conditions, Race/Ethnicity, and Age, 2012

December 2015

Frances M. Chevarley, PhD

Highlights

According to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), an estimated 25.9 percent of adults have two or more treated chronic conditions and they account for 57 percent of all health care expenditures.
Of adults ages 18-44, 94.4 percent have no treated chronic conditions or only one treated chronic condition. Among adults age 65 and older, only 34.4 percent have no treated chronic conditions or only one treated chronic condition. Of adults age 65 and older, 42.3 percent have 2-3 treated chronic conditions and 23.2 percent have 4 or more treated chronic conditions.
Average total health care expenditures were higher for adults with 2-3 versus 0-1 treated chronic conditions within each of the age groups for all three race/ethnicity groups.
For all three race/ethnicity groups, average total expenditures were higher for adults with 4 or more versus 2-3 treated chronic conditions within the age groups 18 and older, 45-64, and age 65 and older.