Date published:
Monday, March 22, 2010Region:
Republic of Ireland
Northern Ireland
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Last week the Institute of Public Health (IPH) released Making Chronic Conditions Count, a study describing the prevalence of chronic conditions such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes across the island of Ireland and predicting levels of these conditions for 2015 and 2020. In the report,the IPH estimates that the number of adults with chronic conditions will increase by around 40% in the Republic of Ireland and by around 30% in Northern Ireland by 2020.It also says that by 2020 relatively more (compared to 2007) of the burden of these conditions will be borne by adults in the older age groups.
The report says: ‘The burden of conditions is expected to rise because our population will grow, it will age and some risk factors such as obesity will become more common. Unless we address this growing burden we may continue to add more years to our lives without adding more life to those years.’
Prevalence increases dramatically with age
According to the study, the prevalence of chronic conditions increases dramatically with age. For example in 2007, the percentage of adults in Northern Ireland who had high blood pressure rose from 9.2% amongst 16-44 year olds, to 39.6% amongst 45-64 year olds, to 65.1% amongst 65-74 year olds, and to 71.9% amongst adults aged 75 years and over. The same pattern is observed in the Republic of Ireland and amongst males and females. For each chronic condition, higher prevalence rates amongst older adults along with an ageing population mean that the percentage of all adults with these conditions who belong to the older age groups will increase. For example, in the Republic of Ireland the percentage of all adults who have ever had a stroke that are aged 65 years and over will rise from 62.8% in 2007 to 67.1% in 2020. In Northern Ireland the percentage will rise from 67.2% to 71.2%.
Reducing the number of healthy years
Making Chronic Conditions Count shows that prevalence of chronic conditions is reducing the number of healthy years lived and should cause concern for those involved in the area of healthy ageing. The report recommends that further studies be undertaken to promote a better understanding of the variation of chronic disease prevalence with factors such as age. Such research would help to support health needs assessments as well as helping to plan social and health services in the future. It also highlights the need for life-long assessments of chronic conditions and preventative intervention throughout the lives of people in Ireland, North and South. The full report is available at http://www.publichealth.ie/publications/makingchronicconditionscount
Longevity not matched by better health
This report on chronic disease reinforces the findings of a recent CARDI report Illustrating Ageing in Ireland North and South, which revealed an increase in the number of years a person lives with ill heath in Ireland. It found that in Republic of Ireland, the number of years a man can expect to live in poor health has risen from 9.5 in 1999 to 14.7 in 2007 and the average woman’s likely period in bad health has risen from 11.3 years to 16.8 years. The full report is available at: http://www.cardi.ie/publications/illustratingageinginirelandnorthsouthkeyfactsandfigures Both reports highlight that the gains made in terms of increasing the length of peoples' lives in Ireland may be compromised by ill health suffered by older populations and this may deeply impact on the quality of their extended lives. They also underline the need for further research in this area to ensure that additional years are matched by better health.
