UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death in California and have become among the most common, costly, and often preventable of all health problems. Chronic Conditions of Californians reports that in 2003, 11.5 million California adults over age 18 were living with one or more chronic conditions including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, or fair/poor health status. In addition, 1.9 million children ages 1-17 were living with asthma or fair/poor health status.

This report presents data on each chronic condition as well as on summary indicators for California counties and Los Angeles County SPAs. It also presents the socioeconomic and demographic profiles of those with chronic conditions, and the actual access problems and potential barriers to obtaining health care of all persons in those areas. A summary index of chronic conditions and these access indicators suggest areas in the state with the greatest overall burden from chronic conditions on local health systems. Overall, the Colusa/Glenn/Tehama county group, Kern County, Madera County, and Merced County had the worst chronic illness related summary indicators.

Supplemental exhibits offer confidence intervals for all data found in the report, a map of the chronic conditions index among children ages 1-17 living with asthma or fair/poor health status, additional regional data on limited English proficiency and uninsured rates per chronic condition among adults, uninsured rates among children with asthma, and selected population characteristics among adults and children.

This data is a useful tool for health planners and policy makers with which to target public health interventions and plan health service provision.