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As our health system is strained by epidemics of polio, polio and covid-19, chronic diseases do not receive the attention they deserve. But as we continue to face persistent infectious disease threats, we must build robust health systems equipped to deal with both public health emergencies and ongoing public health challenges.
Before the pandemic, chronic disease was a serious problem in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in six adults has a chronic disease, and four in 10 adults have two or more chronic diseases. These include diabetes, heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, stroke and chronic kidney disease. They represent chronic diseases Seven of the top 10 Causes of death in the United States.
The Covid-19 pandemic has directly and indirectly affected chronic disease by disrupting prevention and disease management and contributing to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease and obesity all increase the risk of serious illness from Covid. We have seen the birth of a new chronic disease in the “long covid”. One in five Americans.
A growing number of studies show that Covid can increase the risk of diabetes even months after a person is infected. A Lancet study People infected with Covid-19 were about 40 percent more likely to develop diabetes up to one year than those in the control group. For every 1,000 people studied in each group, about 13 more individuals in the Covid group developed diabetes. Even people with mild infections and no previous diabetes risk have an increased risk of developing chronic disease.
Several studies have also pointed out how the epidemic has created obstacles in the prevention of cancer. In the year In 2021 Research The impact of the epidemic on cancer services has been published Louisiana And Georgia There were nearly 30,000 cancer pathology reports, a 10 percent decrease compared to 2019. Many said they delayed or missed preventive medicine appointments in 2020 for fear of exposure to the virus.
Without responding to the dual crisis of infectious disease threats like Covid and chronic disease, each continues to amplify the negative impact of the other. This puts additional pressure on our health systems, ultimately creating barriers or reduced capacity for care for other health care issues.
Our health care system must coordinate incentives for payers, providers, employers, and individuals to better prevent, detect, treat, and manage chronic diseases before they become acute and costly problems. This begins with increasing access to and eliminating primary care physicians and completing integrated preventive care.
Primary care physicians are critical to the prevention and diagnosis of chronic disease and provide referrals to other specialists to help with their problems.
According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, between a quarter and nearly half of adults. Adults under 30 years old You don’t have a primary care doctor. This disparity in care is worse for minorities. In the year A 2020 poll by the African American Research Group found that black, Native American and Latino Americans were less likely to have access to a primary care physician than their white counterparts.
One positive effect of the epidemic is the adoption of telemedicine, especially for those in rural areas or healthcare “deserts.” New technological advances may expand the role telemedicine plays in home care delivery. Remote patient monitoring tools allow providers to monitor a patient’s progress remotely and receive alerts if there is a problem. In order to continue to receive telemedicine benefits, we must make emergency authorizations permanent and ensure payment equity for providers. Equitable Internet access for all Americans is essential to reducing disparities in care.
Standardized, interoperable healthcare data systems can help providers reduce inefficiencies and improve the health system’s ability to proactively identify risk and coordinate care.
By investing in new technology tools like big data analytics and genomic testing, providers can do so. Early delivery Develop a deeper understanding of how, why and where chronic diseases develop and continuously monitor, track and manage patients in their homes.
By investing in resilient health systems to address public health emergencies and chronic diseases, we can promote healthy longevity for all.
Dr. William Haseltine is president of ACCESS Health International and will chair the two expert panels. Metabesity 2022 Conference How lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic can prepare us to tackle chronic disease pandemics.
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