In every country, the population is growing older. The majority of this is due in part to better treatment of illness. We can see this through the decrease in deaths from cardiovascular diseases and the reduction of 32% in the mortality rate from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases across the globe over the past 20 years.
It is no secret that longer longevity is a great factor, but the advancements in treatment also mean that people have a lot more chronic illnesses that can be difficult to control.
In reality, health systems across the globe are based on the concept of institutions, not individuals, They aren’t capable of handling the difficulties of patients suffering from multiple ailments, who frequently have mental health issues, as well as the burden of personal along with the social stigma that results from being sick.
People with multiple chronic illnesses have regular visits to their doctor and are admitted to the hospital more frequently and get assistance at home, however it is usually offered by various institutions which operate independently from each other. This means that patients’ needs are generally not satisfied.
It’s already a significant problem in countries with high incomes. However, it’s even more difficult in middle-income countries like China and India, in which the amount of people suffering from multiple chronic illnesses is growing. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoarthritis is increasing because of aging, as well as dietary changes and sedentary lives.
Multiple chronic illnesses
Imagine a widow aged 80 with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, as well as depression and cardiovascular disease, and living on a modest pension in a large city. The woman suffers from multiple chronic illnesses that have to be treated in a number of different stages. Sometimes, treating one issue can create a worse condition for another.
In a wealthy country like Canada, she could have three specialists as well as an individual family doctor, be on six medications, and even be admitted to the hospital at least once a year due to issues related to her current ailments or new ones (such as pneumonia) which she is more prone to because of her fragility.
In a middle-income nation like China or India, the patient may be treated by one or two specialists or a generalist with a limited education. Still, none of them could handle all the conditions she has. The doctor may have recommended some medications that she can’t afford, and she is sometimes hospitalized for chest discomfort or breath shortness; however, her mood swings and joint pain stop her from regularly exercising or taking medications to help improve her heart health.
Paying for the cost
The main difference between these two situations lies in the healthcare system. The first has insurance coverage and access to healthcare. However, the care is not coordinated in both cases.
In high-income nations, such as the UK or the US, 5% of patients account for 50% of the costs. The majority of them suffer from multiple chronic diseases.
In many middle-income countries, patients have to pay the majority of the costs themselves. People with multiple medical conditions are now the primary “clients” of a system that was not designed to meet their specific needs.
It was a morning that was very cold. It is a typical morning in Beijing. Kim Kyung Hoon/Reuters
In neither of these cases is anyone involved with the community group or neighbors who might be able to check on her or engage the woman in activities that could give her a reason to venture out, increase her mobility, avoid the possibility of an injury to her hip, as well as thus make her life better.
