3rd – 4th June, 2010 9:00 – 18:00 / 9:00 – 15:00
Meeting Venue: ISCHIA, Hotel Miramare e Castello
1st – 2nd July, 2010 9:00 – 18:00 / 10:00 – 13:00
Meeting Venue: Brussels, European Commission
Chronic diseases are those that „…occur across the whole spectrum of illness, mental health problems and injuries. Chronic diseases tend to be complex conditions in how they are caused, are often long-lasting and persistent in their effects and can produce a range of complications“ (AIHW 2002).
Chronic conditions are those which are long-term (lasting more than 6 months) and can have a significant effect on a person's life. Management to reduce the severity of both the symptoms and the impact is possible in many conditions. Management includes medication and/or lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, and stress management (Health Insite 2003a). At the same time, it should be noted that chronic diseases may get worse, lead to death, be cured, remain dormant or require continual monitoring.
Patients and physicians are generally optimistic about the benefits of proper disease management. Nearly four out of five patients (7%) believe that there is better control of the disease than there was five years ago, and 74% believe that with proper treatment, it is possible to live a full and active life. Similarly, 76% of physicians say that the long-term health outlook for chronic disease has improved in the past decade, and most of this group (78%) credit the improvement to better medications.
© Copyright 2008 Chronius project.
CHRONIOUS project is partially funded by the European Commission.