Week 1: The Chronic Illness Epidemic

Question 1

What is the difference between an acute and a chronic disease?

Answer 1

▪ Acute
• Severe symptoms, short duration
• Routine or serious
• Return to usual state of wellness

▪ Chronic
• Ongoing symptoms, long duration (> 6 months)
• Slow onset, periods of remission & exacerbations

Question 2

What is the difference between a chronic disease and a chronic illness?

Answer 2

Chronic disease:
“the pathophysiology that gives rise to an alteration in a person’s body function and structure”
Pathophysiology which impairs function

Chronic illness:
“the irreversible presence, accumulation or latency of disease states or impairments that involve the total human environment for supportive care and self-care, maintenance of function and prevention of further disability”
Impairment occurring due to disease

Question 3

What is a chronic disease?

Answer 3

A group of diseases that tend to be long lasting and have persistent effects;
Mostly characterised by
complex causality
multiple risk factors
long latency periods
a prolonged course of illness
functional impairment or disability

Question 4

What is multi-morbidity?

Answer 4

“the co-occurrence of multiple chronic or acute diseases and medical conditions within one person” without any reference to an index condition
Multiple chronic diseases (or acute) without an index disease. E.g. cancer and depression, mental illness and diabetes

Question 5

What is a co-morbidity?

Answer 5

Describes medical conditions that exist at the time of diagnosis of the index disease or later, but that are not a consequence of the index disease
Index disease is primary diagnosis, chronic diseases are not consequence of index. E.g. COPD (primary), diabetes and mental health illness

Question 6

What is an index disease?

Answer 6

Primary disease which is a catalyst for others (usually diagnosed first)

Question 7

What is the burden of disease?

Answer 7

➢ A term referring to the quantified impact of a disease or injury on a population, using a summary measure that combines the burden of premature death with the burden of living with ill health
➢ In terms of health burden, chronic diseases are the leading cause of ill health and death in Australia, and have been for some decades.
Impact of a disease on the healthcare system and a person’s lifestyle

Question 8

What are some common chronic diseases?

Answer 8

arthritis
asthma
back pain and problems
cancer (such as lung and colorectal cancer)
cardiovascular disease (such as coronary heart disease and stroke)
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
diabetes
mental health conditions (such as depression)

Question 9

What are the risk factors for chronic disease?

Answer 9

SNAP factors
Negative SDH are known as risk factors. These affect the onset, maintenance and prognosis of disease. Includes:
Poor diet and nutrition
Decreased physical activity
Tobacco smoking
Excessive alcohol consumption
Obesity

Question 10

How does the current healthcare system deal with chronic disease?

Answer 10

Treats exacerbations, not lifestyle
Needs of population have changed from acute episodic care to prevention and promotion, however healthcare hasn’t changed with it