| Chronic diseases | Chronic diseases are diseases that persist—lasting three months or more, according to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. They include heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, diseases that cause 70% of all deaths in the United States and account for about 75% of the nation's $1.4 trillion annual bill, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (See cdc.gov.) These diseases are costly in part because the patients usually have multiple conditions (making treatment more challenging), patients often have difficulty complying with doctors' orders, and chronic disease treatment is often poorly coordinated.
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Glossary 
