Bipartisan Partnership Applauds JAMA for Taking On Childhood Chronic Disease, Urges Policymakers to Follow Suit
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 28, 2007) - The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) today issued the following statement in response to the most recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), which examines chronic disease in children:
"The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease applauds JAMA for bringing to light the increasing rates of preventable chronic disease among children and the impact these chronic health conditions - including diabetes, asthma and obesity - have on American children.
"In the June 27 issue of JAMA, researchers revealed that the rate of chronic disease in children has quadrupled since 1960, when their parents were children. One Harvard researcher called the increased incidence of chronic disease in the U.S. 'an epidemic.'
"JAMA's reporting underscores the need for comprehensive health care reform in America— it is a matter of life and death for our children. The PFCD urges lawmakers and presidential candidates to implement policies that focus on preventing and effectively managing serious diseases. Chronic conditions -- physically and mentally debilitating illnesses, many of which are ultimately preventable -- will continue to affect Americans of every age until addressed by our nation's policymakers."
Chronic diseases are responsible for seven out of 10 deaths and 75 percent of every health care dollar spent in the U.S. The doubling of obesity rates between 1987 and today accounts for nearly 30 percent of the rise in health care spending. These are conditions that, with proper early intervention, diet, and exercise, could be prevented, delayed, or minimized. More than 130 million Americans today have a chronic disease.
About the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease:
The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is a national coalition of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs in the U.S.: chronic disease.
The PFCD's mission is to:
- Challenge policymakers - in particular, the 2008 presidential candidates - to make the issue of chronic disease a top priority and articulate how they will address the issue through their health care proposals
- Educate the public about chronic disease and potential solutions for individuals, communities, and the nation
- Mobilize Americans to call for change in how policymakers, governments, employers, health institutions, and other entities approach chronic disease
Leaders in the effort represent more than 50 leading organizations from across health care, business and labor including Aetna, American Academy of Family Physicians, Alliance for Aging Research, American Academy of Physician Assistants, American College of Nurse Practitioners, American College of Preventive Medicine, American Hospital Association, American Pharmacists Association Foundation, Disease Management Association of America, Kerr Drug, Integrated Benefits Institute, International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, NAACP, Milken Institute, National Association of Manufacturers, National Medical Association, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Service Employees International Union, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and YMCA of the USA, among others.
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