Chronic Disease and Epidemiology

Chronic Disease and Epidemiology

• Chronic diseases are long-term health conditions requiring ongoing medical attention, significantly impacting quality of life.
• Examples include diabetes, heart disease, COPD, hypertension, asthma, arthritis, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, stroke, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, liver disease, and chronic pain conditions.
• Diabetes is a metabolic disorder with high blood sugar, potentially leading to heart disease, kidney failure, and neuropathy.
• Heart disease encompasses conditions like coronary artery disease and heart failure, often linked to lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and smoking.
• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a progressive lung disease causing breathing difficulties, often resulting from smoking and environmental factors. It includes conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Objectives

• Define chronic diseases and understand their public health significance.
• Identify common chronic disease risk factors.
• Discuss preventive strategies to reduce chronic disease incidence.
• Analyze case studies to apply risk factor and prevention knowledge.

Overview of Chronic Diseases

• Chronic diseases are long-term conditions needing ongoing medical care.
• These conditions significantly impact an individual's quality of life.

Examples of Chronic Diseases

• Hypertension
• Asthma
• Arthritis
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Heart Failure
• Stroke
• Obesity

Burden of Chronic Diseases

• Impact on Individuals: Diminished quality of life from symptoms, complications, constant management, emotional distress, social isolation, and increased healthcare costs.
• Impact on Healthcare Systems: High healthcare spending due to hospitalizations, medications, and outpatient care. Increased demand leads to strain on resources.

Epidemiology as a Tool to Study Chronic Diseases

• Identifying Risk Factors: Crucial to understanding disease development.
• Assessing Disease Burden: Evaluating the impact of the disease on populations.
• Evaluating Interventions: Measuring the effectiveness of prevention and treatment strategies.

Risk Factors Defined

• Risk factors are characteristics or conditions increasing the likelihood of developing a disease or health issue.
• Categories: Modifiable and Non-Modifiable.

Common Risk Factors - Behavioral

• Smoking
• Diet
• Physical Inactivity

Common Risk Factors - Environmental

• Pollution
• Occupational Hazards

Common Risk Factors - Genetic

• Family History
• Genetic Disorders

Statistics on Prevalence of Common Risk Factors - Behavioral

• Smoking: Approximately 14% of US adults are current smokers in 2020 (down from 20% in 2005). Smoking causes nearly 1 in 5 US deaths annually (over 480,000 deaths per year).
• Poor Diet: Only 12% of US adults meet recommended daily fruit and vegetable intake. 36% of US adults are obese, largely due to poor dietary habits.
• Physical Inactivity: About 25% of US adults aged 18 and older lack regular physical activity. Sedentary lifestyle increases heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer risk.

Statistics on Prevalence of Common Risk Factors - Environmental

• Air Pollution: Approximately 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide each year are attributed to outdoor air pollution. In the US, about 30% live in areas with poor air quality.
• Occupational Hazards: Over 2.8 million non-fatal workplace injuries/illnesses in 2020. Industries like construction and manufacturing report higher rates of hazardous condition exposure.

Statistics on Prevalence of Common Risk Factors - Genetic

• Family History: An estimated 33% of individuals with a family history of heart disease face a higher risk of developing it. 20% of women and 15% of men with a family history of breast cancer will develop the disease.
• Genetic Disorders: Conditions like cystic fibrosis occur in approximately 1 in 3,500 births in the US. Sickle cell disease affects about 100,000 Americans, mostly those of African descent.

Implications of Chronic Disease Management in Nursing Practice

• Patient Education and Empowerment: Education and patient autonomy in their own care.
• Holistic Care Approach: Holistic assessment to address all aspects of a patient's health.
• Comprehensive Assessments: Understanding the complete patient picture.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Working with other healthcare professionals in a coordinated way.
• Chronic Disease Prevention: Preventing chronic disease emergence.
• Promoting Preventive Strategies: Encouraging lifestyle adjustments.
• Community Engagement: Involvement of the community in preventive measures.
• Managing Comorbidities: Addressing complications and other medical issues.
• Complex Care Coordination: Smooth transitions and continuity of care among specialists.
• Monitoring and Follow-up: Regular visits, medication adherence, and symptom management.
• Utilizing Technology and Data: Implementing health informatics for better patient care.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Based on collected data to tailor preventive measures.
• Addressing Health Disparities: Providing culturally competent care to reduce health inequalities.
• Cultural Competence: Providing care that respects and acknowledges cultural differences.
• Advocacy: Working to improve health system equity and access.

Activity: Group Analysis on Chronic Disease

• Discuss patient's risk factors and challenges.
• Categorize risk factors as modifiable or non-modifiable.
• Develop 3 tailored preventive strategies.
• Prepare brief presentation.
• Findings presentation to the class and discussion.
• Case Studies: Diabetes management, COPD, and heart disease provided as practical examples for group analysis.

What Did We Do Today?

• Defined chronic diseases and their public health importance.
• Identified common chronic disease risk factors, including behavioral, environmental, and genetic factors.
• Explored strategies for reducing chronic disease prevalence.
• Applied learning through the analysis of clinical cases.