U.S. Economic Burden Of Chronic Diseases Reaches $3.7 Trillion

In the United States, direct and indirect costs of chronic illness totaled about $3.7 trillion in 2016. The $3.7 trillion represents about one-fifth of the 2018 gross domestic product of $20.50 trillion. Chronic illnesses in this context include diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, overweight and obesity, and cancer. Direct costs totaled about $1.1 trillion for hospital care, physician visits, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and home care—about 33% of the total $3.36 trillion for U.S. health care spending in 2016. Indirect costs totaled about $2.6 trillion due to . . .