Download Policy Briefing: Long Term Conditions Overview

Policy Briefing: Long Term Conditions
Overview
Spring 2010
Definition
A long term condition is one of prolonged duration, generally lasting
longer than a year e.g. asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, skin conditions,
cancer, heart disease, arthritis; ME, chronic pain, Alzheimer’s,
stroke and mental health problemsi.
Prevalence
§
§
§
§
In Scotland an estimated 2 million peopleii live with one or
more condition.
In the UK around a quarter of those with long term conditions
have 3 or more conditionsiii.
Prevalence increases with age – around two thirds of those aged
75 and over live with at least one long term condition.
Prevalence is set to rise significantly as the Scottish
population ages:
o The number of people aged 75 and over is set to increase
by 75 per cent between 2004 and 2031iv.
o The number of people with COPD (Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease) is projected to increase by 33 per cent
between 2007 and 2027v.
o The number of people with dementia is expected to
increase by 75 per cent between 2007 and 2032vi
Impact on health
§
§
§
Long term conditions are the leading cause of death world
widevii and account for 85 per cent of deaths in the UK.viii
Long term conditions account for around 80% of GP
consultationsix. People with long term conditions are also more
likely to be admitted to hospital and to stay there for longerx.
There is strong two-way correlation between physical long term
conditions and mental health problems.
Poverty and employment
§
·
Someone living in a deprived area is more than twice as likely as
someone in an affluent area to have a long term conditionxi.
On average someone with a long term condition isxii:
o Less likely to be employed, have savings or own their own
home
o Likely to have fewer educational qualifications and a lower
household income
o More likely to live in areas associated with deprivation
o More likely to experience financial difficulty including debt
and inability to meet health-related costsxiii
For more information please contact:
Shelley Gray, LTCAS Director of Policy and Campaigns on 0141 404
0231 or [email protected] or visit www.ltcas.org.uk
i
this list is by no means exhaustive
Based on number of people reporting ‘long-standing illness or
disability’ in 2003 Scottish Health Survey
iii
‘NHS Scotland National Framework for Service Change, Long Term
Conditions Action Team Report 2005
http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/nationalframework/Documents/chroni
cdisease/ltcmreport_final.pdf
iv
Managing long-term conditions, Audit Scotland (2007)
v
Managing long-term conditions, Audit Scotland (2007)
vi
Alzheimer Scotland (2007) The Dementia Epidemic.
http://www.alzscot.org/pages/policy/dementiaepidemic.htm
vii
World Health Organisation
http://www.who.int/topics/chronic_diseases/en/
viii
Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment, World Health
Organisation, (2005)
ix
‘Delivering for Health’ Scottish Executive 2005
x
‘Delivering for Health’ Scottish Executive 2005
xi
‘Building a Health Service Fit for the Future, A National Framework
for Service Change in the NHS in Scotland’ (The Kerr Report) 2005
xii
Characteristics of adults in Scotland with long-term health
conditions, Wendy Loretto and Matt Taylor, University of Edinburgh,
Scottish Executive Social Research (2007)
xiii
Paying the Price: The real costs of illness and disability for CAB
clients, Citizens Advice Scotland (2006)
ii