The 2009 edition of the Almanac of Chronic Disease (pdf), subtitled “The Impact of Chronic Disease on U.S. Health and Prosperity,” has been released by The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD).

The report combines peer-reviewed data with commentary from national health care leaders and policy experts to provide a comprehensive collection of current information as well as guidance for making improvements through changes in individual, community, and national action.

A few notable facts from the ninety-two page report include:

• More than 133 million Americans, or 45 percent of the population, have at least one chronic condition.
• Of each dollar we spend on health care nationwide more than 75 cents – or about $1.7 trillion annually – goes toward the treatment of chronic illness.
• Treatment of patients with one or more chronic diseases now accounts for the vast majority of spending in both Medicare (96 percent) and Medicaid (83 percent).

Responding to the report,  Carol Regan, director of PHI’s Health Care for Health Care Workers initiative, said, “The work of the Partnership in documenting the human and economic toll is very important as Congress grapples with national health reform. Direct-care workers suffer disproportionately from chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension, and the sad fact is that because nearly 30% of all direct care workers lack insurance coverage, they lack access to the type of care that is needed to prevent serious illness and hospitalization.”

PFCD is a national coalition of health care community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness about rising rates of preventable and treatable chronic diseases.

The 2009 Almanac was co-sponsored by several PFCD partner organizations, including the American Academy of Nursing, Canyon Ranch Institute, DMAA: The Care Continuum Alliance, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), and the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems.