Document Type
Article
Source of Publication
Nature Communications
Publication Date
12-1-2025
Abstract
Chronic care manages long-term, progressive conditions, while acute care addresses short-term conditions. Chronic conditions increasingly strain health systems, which are often unprepared for these demands. This study examines the burden of conditions requiring acute versus chronic care, including sequelae. Conditions and sequelae from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019 were classified into acute or chronic care categories. Data were analysed by age, sex, and socio-demographic index, presenting total numbers and contributions to burden metrics such as Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), Years Lived with Disability (YLD), and Years of Life Lost (YLL). Approximately 68% of DALYs were attributed to chronic care, while 27% were due to acute care. Chronic care needs increased with age, representing 86% of YLDs and 71% of YLLs, and accounting for 93% of YLDs from sequelae. These findings highlight that chronic care needs far exceed acute care needs globally, necessitating health systems to adapt accordingly.
DOI Link
ISSN
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
16
Issue
1
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Scopus ID
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Zuniga, Yves Miel H.; Zumla, Alimuddin; Zuhlke, Liesl J.; Zoladl, Mohammad; Ziaeian, Boback; Zhong, Chenwen; Zhao, Xiu Ju George; Zhang, Zhi Jiang; Zhang, Jianrong; Zepro, Nejimu Biza; Zenebe, Getachew Assefa; Zeitoun, Jean David; Zegeye, Zelalem Banjaw; Zastrozhin, Mikhail Sergeevich; Zareshahrabadi, Zahra; Zarea, Kourosh; Dehnavi, Ali Zare; Zare, Iman; Zangiabadian, Moein; Zangeneh, Alireza; Zamora, Nelson; Zaman, Sojib Bin; Zaki, Nazar; Zakaryaei, Farima; Zahir, Mazyar; Tajrishi, Farbod Zahedi; Zadnik, Vesna; and Artaman, Ali, "Characterising acute and chronic care needs: insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019" (2025). All Works. 7409.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/7409
Indexed in Scopus
yes
Open Access
yes
Open Access Type
Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series