The Burden of Chronic Disease: The Future is Prevention Introduction to Dr. James Marks' presentation, “The Burden of Chronic Disease and the Future of Public Health”

Abstract

Chronic diseases impose an enormous financial and societal burden on the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic diseases today account for 70% of the deaths of all Americans and 75% of this country’s annual health care costs. Unless we take steps now to deal effectively with chronic diseases, our nation is headed for a serious financial and quality-of-life crisis. Among the contributing factors to this crisis are the aging of our population; increases in obesity, particularly among adolescents; and the tragedy of tobacco addiction. No one speaks with more passion, conviction, and vision about the need to address this pending crisis than Dr. James Marks, director of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. As he demonstrates so clearly in his presentation, "The Burden of Chronic Disease and the Future of Public Health," public health prevention programs can, with real societal and political will, substantially reduce or even prevent the burden of many major chronic disease conditions.

Keywords

• Prevention
• chronic disease
• public health