Data
In Massachusetts, chronic diseases are the most common and costly health outcomes. In 2021, chronic diseases (cancer, heart disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke) made up four out of the six leading causes of death of Massachusetts residents1.
In 2021, over 1 in 3 adults in Massachusetts (37%) reported one or more of the following chronic conditions: asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 2.
Furthermore, inequities in prevalence of chronic conditions exist in Massachusetts. For example, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance survey data from 2021 suggests that rates of diabetes, COPD and stroke are higher among Black, non-Hispanic/non-Latinx populations compared to White, non-Hispanic/non-Latinx populations (Figure 1 below). Also visit the Massachusetts State Health Assessment to learn more about Chronic Disease from a variety of data sources.
Figure 1: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance survey data
If you are having difficulty accessing the chart, you may try this chart in full screen.
Background
“It is estimated that MA has more than $41.4 billion in annual costs associated with chronic disease.”
Chronic diseases are also preventable. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that we could prevent 80% of heart disease and stroke, 80% of Type II diabetes and 40% of cancers by eliminating the 3 modifiable behavioral risk factors of poor diet, physical inactivity, and smoking.
However, poor physical, economic, service, and social environments in which people live prevent them from achieving these healthy behaviors and good health. The lasting impact of structural racism — the public policies, institutional practices, and social norms that together maintain racial hierarchies — across the country, and within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is that there are vast inequities in these environments. Healthy behaviors and good health have been much less attainable for MA residents of certain races, incomes, education levels, immigration status, gender, sexual orientations, and other social identities because of historically oppressive policies.
These inequities have persisted over time to the present day. Rates of chronic disease continue to rise and are being seen in younger individuals.
The Commonwealth needs to make a significant investment in chronic disease prevention. This investment must focus not only on providing services to those experiencing chronic disease and associated risk factors, but also focus on primary prevention at the community level by shaping environmental conditions to enable ALL residents in the Commonwealth have an equal opportunity to be healthy.
The SHIP highlights current health outcome priorities that have the following components: a strong collaborative approach with community partners, identified strategies and quantifiable goals, and regular collaborative monitoring of progress on goals.
Although we are striving to take a collaborative approach to impact across all chronic disease areas, the SHIP components are best demonstrated at this time by our work in asthma. Our hope is to replicate this more comprehensive approach in other areas in the future.
Asthma prevention and control
Goals, objectives and strategies outlined are a result of a comprehensive planning process undertaken by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) Asthma Prevention and Control Program (APCP) in collaboration with the Massachusetts Asthma Action Partnership (MAAP), asthma partners, stakeholders, and thought leaders across Massachusetts.
Visit our Asthma – State Health Improvement Plan for more details on asthma prevention and control. Additionally, you can visit the Bureau of Community Health and Prevention to learn more about our other chronic disease initiatives.
Contact prevention.wellness@mass.gov to learn more about the work at DPH related to chronic disease.