Chronic diseases are becoming more common within the community and are a priority for the health sector. With nearly half of the Australian population having at least one of the eight major chronic conditions, we thought we would share a quick overview of chronic diseases.

What is a chronic disease?

A chronic disease can be defined as a long-lasting condition with persistent effects. They are not usually immediately life-threatening, but overtime can become serious, shortening the life expectancy of a person. Social and economic consequences may also impact quality of life. These conditions can occur as one disease or alongside other diseases - many people experience multimorbidity, the presence of two or more chronic conditions at the same time.

There are many chronic diseases that affect Australians, the ones currently being addressed by the Department of Health include:

• Cancer
• Cardiovascular conditions
• Chronic eye conditions
• Diabetes
• Endometriosis
• Kidney disease
• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Neurological conditions
• Rare diseases
• Lung and respiratory

The most common conditions that pose health problems include arthritis, asthma, back pain, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, mental health conditions and osteoporosis. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare regularly report on these eight conditions because actions can be taken to prevent them.

Management

With around 47% of Australians living with a chronic health condition and 37% of all hospital admissions related to these conditions there is a need for a change in the way chronic disease is recognised, treated and managed.

At Queensland Country we are committed to improving the long-term health and wellbeing of our Members. Our Care Navigation service provides a team of Registered Nurses who may be able to help eligible Members manage
some of the more common chronic diseases. They can offer support and education with the following:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Sleep Apnoea
• Arthritis and Osteoporosis

For more information about our Care Navigation service visit queenslandcountry.health/carenavigation Additionally, we have also partnered with Healthily to provide an Online Health and Wellness Centre for our
Members with resources for some of the key topics.

Sources: Health.gov.au and Aihw.gov.au