Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States--accounting for 70% of all deaths. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. "Chronic Disease Overview". Wed, 16 May 2007 10:18:28 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/15 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/15 5 chronic diseases--heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes--account for more than 2/3 of all deaths. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. The Burden of Chronic Diseases and Their Risk Factors: National and state perspectives. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2004. Fri, 18 May 2007 14:08:25 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/17 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/17 The average 75-year-old suffers from 3 chronic conditions and takes 5 prescription medications. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Merck Institute of Aging and Health. The State of Aging and Health in America 2004. Washington, D.C.: Merck Institute of Aging and Health. 2004. Fri, 18 May 2007 14:09:29 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/21 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/21 Medicare beneficiaries with 5 or more chronic conditions see an average of 14 different physicians a year. -- Alliance for Health Reform. Covering Health Issues: A sourcebook for journalists 2004. Washington, D.C.: Alliance for Health Reform. 2004. Fri, 18 May 2007 14:09:46 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/22 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/22 Medicare beneficiaries with 4 or more chronic conditions are 99 times more likely to be admitted to the hospital for ambulatory sensitive conditions, than Medicare beneficiaries without chronic conditions. -- Wolff, Jennifer L., Barbara Starfield, and Gerard Anderson. "Prevalence, Expenditures, and Complications of Multiple Chronic Conditions in the Elderly". Archives of Internal Medicine. Vol. 162, No. 20, pp. 2269-76. Fri, 18 May 2007 14:10:07 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/23 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/23 Percentage of Medicare enrollees age 65 and over with functional limitations, by residential setting, 2005 -- Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. Older Americans 2008: Key Indicators of Well-Being. Washington, DC: U.S. Government printing office. 2008. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:21:28 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/1481 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/1481 1.7 million Americans die from a chronic disease each year--7 out of 10 deaths in the United States. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. "Chronic Disease Overview". Wed, 16 May 2007 10:36:17 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/945 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/945 Over 2/5 of Americans age 65 and older who had health care expenses paid at least $1,000 out-of-pocket in 2003. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2006: With chartbook on trends in the health of Americans. Hyattsville, MD: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2006. Wed, 02 May 2007 14:16:27 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/866 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/866 One in Four Americans Has Multiple Chronic Conditions -- Anderson, Gerard. Chronic Conditions: Making the case for ongoing care. Johns Hopkins University. November 2007. Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:28:11 -0600 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/1326 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/1326 People with Chronic Illnesses and Activity Limitations Have More Physician Visits -- Partnership for Solutions. Chronic Conditions: Making the case for ongoing care-September 2004 update. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University. 2004. Fri, 28 Apr 2006 09:51:12 -0500 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/266 http://www.silverbook.org/fact/266