11M California Adults Live With One or More Chronic Conditions
Eleven million adults in California have at least one of five major chronic diseases, according to a report by the California HealthCare Foundation, the Central Valley Business Times reports.
CHCF publishes California Healthline.
The five chronic conditions include:
- Asthma;
- Diabetes;
- Heart disease;
- High blood pressure; and
- Serious psychological distress.
The conditions are the leading causes of death, disability and high health care costs in the U.S., according to the Business Times.
Details of Findings
In California, about 40% of adults reported having one or more chronic conditions, the most common of which was high blood pressure, affecting about 7.6 million adults.
However, the report noted that incidence varied by:
- Age;
- Income;
- Insurance status; and
- Race and ethnicity.
For example:
- 70% of Californians ages 65 or older reported having at least one chronic condition, compared with 26% of residents ages 18 to 39; and
- About 14% of adults with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level had two or more chronic conditions, compared with 8% of adults with incomes above 400% of the poverty level.
Meanwhile, the report found that many California adults delayed care because of costs. Specifically:
- 34% of adults with psychological distress reported delaying care, often because of costs or lack of insurance; and
- 27% of adults with psychological distress reported delaying filling prescriptions, often because of costs or lack of insurance (Central Valley Business Times, 4/28).