Multiple long-term physical health problems increase risk of depression later in life

[2greys]

About 15 million people in England have a long-term condition. Long-term conditions or chronic diseases are conditions for which there is currently no cure, and which are managed with drugs and other treatment, for example: diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis and hypertension.

Long-term conditions are more prevalent in older people (58 per cent of people over 60 compared to 14 per cent under 40) and in more deprived groups (people in the poorest social class have a 60 per cent higher prevalence than those in the richest social class and 30 per cent more severity of disease).

People with long-term conditions now account for about 50 per cent of all GP appointments, 64 per cent of all outpatient appointments and over 70 per cent of all inpatient bed days.

Treatment and care for people with long-term conditions is estimated to take up around £7 in every £10 of total health and social care expenditure.

Projections for the future of long-term conditions are not straightforward. The Department of Health (based on self-reported health) estimates that the overall number of people with at least one long-term condition may remain relatively stable until 2018. However, analysis of individual conditions suggests that the numbers are growing, and the number of people with multiple long-term conditions appears to be rising.

kingsfund.org.uk/projects/t....

[Carnival567]

Many treatments are improved and so people are living longer. I have a congenital heart condition for which I had surgery sixty years ago. According to the literature even after surgery the average age of death was 55. However, they have now discovered that many conditions which can be treated now are part of the original condition, including hypertension, eye problems, pulmonary hypertension and possibly diabetes, all of which are treatable. Of course, I have to get lung diseases as well, but hey! you have to give doctors something to think about, although I probably know more than most non cardiologists. I often have to explain it to other doctors.

[elizabethbrownall]

Modern medicine world is developing in several ways, curing health issues is very easy, but few health issues had still no medicine due to lack of researches and proper data.