Multiple Chronic Conditions Lower Life Expectancy

A combination of two or more chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, or stroke can increase your risk of dying prematurely, according to a study published in JAMA. Researchers compared mortality rates for 689,300 participants as part of the Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration with 499,808 participants from the UK Biobank. Those with a history of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease experienced up to four times the mortality rate compared to those with one or two of these conditions. Results showed that participants aged 60 or older with two and three of these conditions had reductions in life expectancy of 12 and 15 years, respectively. The numbers of years lost due to these conditions increased in younger populations.