Global Chronic Disease Treatment Report
A chronic disease is a long-lasting human health condition or pathology that can be controlled but not yet cured by medical assistance. Generally, a disease is considered chronic when lasting for more than three months. In the United States, 7 deaths out of 10 are caused by a chronic pathology making it the leading cause of deaths in the country.
Chronic diseases include stroke, cerebrovascular disease, cancers, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, arthritis, and infectious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. Many of these can ultimately be fatal. Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs), which do not transmit from person to person account for the highest global levelof disease burden. Annually NCDs kill more than 38 million people worldwide. About three quarters of NCD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Key Segments
Key types of chronic diseases include:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) – A group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. CVDs include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, congenital heart disease, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Heart attacks and strokes are usually acute events associated with CVDs. CVDs are the most common cause of death globally. In a recent year, more than 15 million people died from CVDs, accounting for 31% of all deaths globally. The market for cardiovascular therapeutic drugs is worth about $180 billion.
Cancers– A group of diseases caused by uncontrolled division of cells. There are more than 120 types of cancers affecting humans, of which the most common are breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and cervical cancer. Cancers are the second most common cause of death globally. In a recent year, cancer caused over 8 million deaths. Lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer are the cancers associated with high mortality rates. The anti-cancer drug market is worth more than $100 billion.
Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) – Diseases of airways and other structures of lungs. The most prevalentCRDs are COPD, asthma, occupational lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension. Tobacco smoking and air pollution are the main causes of CRDs. Globally about 4 million people die annually due to CRDs. The global market for drugs to treat COPD and asthma, the two most common CRDs, is worth more than $25 billion.
Diabetes– A chronic disease which leads to increasedblood glucose levels.The population diagnosed with diabetes reached more than 420 million in 2014 from around 105 million in 1980.The prevalence of diabetes increased especially sharplyin middle- and low-income countries. In a recent year, about 1.5 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes and another 2.2 million deaths were attributable to high blood glucose. By 2030, diabetes is predicted to be the seventh leading cause of death globally.
Regional Market Shares
Major regions forchronic diseasetreatment include North America, Europe and Asia.
North America is the largest market for chronic diseasetreatments. Good healthcare access, favorable reimbursement policies and high levels of adoption of premium priced drugs makes this region occupy the largest part of the market. The USA, where heart disease accounts for one in seven deaths andmore than 1500 people die from cancer every day is the largest market in North America for treatments for chronic diseases.
