The burden of any chronic disease in Spain is a public health problem affecting a large part of the population.
According to the latest data, 54.3% of Spaniards over the age of 15 suffer from some kind of chronic disease, which is equivalent to more than 22 million people.
These chronic health conditions pose a major challenge to the health system and society as a whole, as they not only affect the quality of life of those affected, but also have significant economic and social consequences.
Chronic diseases are a diverse category that covers a wide range of diseases. From diabetes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including heart failure and osteoarthritis.
As well as mental conditions of a chronic and complex nature, these pathologies have a significant impact on the health and well-being of the population.
In addition, these diseases have clear gender implications, with approximately 11 million affected by women.
Population aging and chronic diseases
One of the fundamental reasons for the high prevalence of chronic diseases in Spain is the aging of the population. In 2021, Spain ranked fifth in the European Union in terms of median age, with an average age of 44.7.
This demographic trend is directly related to the incidence of chronic diseases, since most of these conditions tend to be more common in people over 55 years of age.
Chronic diseases not only affect human health, but also place a significant economic and social burden on society.
It is estimated that around €28,000 million will need to be invested in 2022 and beyond to improve chronic health outcomes.
These costs include medical treatment, hospital care, and other interventions necessary to effectively manage chronic conditions.
Horizon 2025 Chronicle Platform
In response to this public health challenge, Chronicity Horizon 2025 (CH2025) has proposed a roadmap to ensure care for people with chronic conditions.
This platform brings together over 650,000 healthcare professionals, 100 patient associations and 10 million patients to improve the quality of care for those with chronic conditions.
The roadmap proposed by the CH2025 platform focuses on three main objectives. First, to advocate for a multidisciplinary, integrated and collaborative approach to chronic disease management.
Second, promote patient education to enable them to manage their own health conditions. And thirdly, to integrate new technologies into effective medical care.
