Comparing the national economic burden of five chronic conditions

Using a nationally representative sample of 23,230 U.S. residents, we exami ne patterns of economic burden across five chronic conditions: mood disorde rs, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and hypertension. Almost half of U.S. health care costs in 1996 were borne by persons with one or more of these f ive conditions; of that spending amount, only about one-quarter was spent o n treating the conditions themselves and the remainder on coexistent illnes ses. Each condition demonstrated substantial economic burden but also uniqu e characteristics and patterns of service use driving those costs. The find ings highlight the differing challenges involved in understanding needs and improving care across particular chronic conditions.