Chronic disease and risk factor statistics

A variety of statistics can be used to map the extent and impact of chronic diseases and their risk factors. These include rates of incidence and prevalence associated with chronic diseases, death rates, rates of disability, years of healthy life lost due to premature mortality and disability, rates of service use, and costs incurred for management and prevention.

Web pages containing statistical information on the extent of the problems caused by chronic diseases and their risk factors are listed on the left of the screen. 

Four of these pages cover 'outcome' measures:

• mortality - chronic diseases as causes of death
• morbidity - the extent of illness from chronic diseases
• disability - limitations and impairments related to chronic diseases
• burden of chronic diseases - years of healthy life lost (DALYs).

Three pages look at the 'impacts' of chronic diseases on the health system:

• use of hospital services 
• GP (general practice) consultations 
• health system expenditure

Two additional pages provide information on:

• prevalence of risk factors for chronic diseases
• International comparisons.

Last reviewed by on 20 August 2007