A new study finds more than 30% of kids 5-17 years old are living with a chronic condition such as ADHD, autism, asthma and prediabetes.
Nearly 1 in 3 children now live with a chronic condition that could impact their lifelong health, a new study finds.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 236,000 kids, teens and young adults who took part in the National Health Interview Survey.
The results showed that of those surveyed, chronic conditions affected more than 30% of children ages 5 to 17 in 2018 – up from about 23% in 1999. That translates to about 130,000 new diagnoses each year.
The increase is being driven by new cases of ADHD, autism, asthma, prediabetes and mood disorders like depression or anxiety.
The review also showed a significant rise in chronic illness among 18-to-25-year-olds – from 19% to 29% between 1999 and 2018. That’s an additional 80,000 young adults per year.
The lead author says most children with chronic conditions need access to treatment and social services for the rest of their lives.
She says, “We should invest in assisting these youth … across their lifespan in order to protect their health and well-being, and to facilitate their maximum participation in society…”
Source: Academic Pediatrics
Author Affiliations: UCLA, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
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