• In the past 100 years, life expectancy has increased by 30 years. 25 years of the 30 year gain can be attributed to public health measures, and only 5 years to curative medicine.

• It is estimated that reducing saturated fat intake by 1 to 3 percentage points would save $4.1 to $12.7 billion in health care costs and lost productivity over a 10-year period.

• Each $1 spent on diabetes outpatient education saves $2 to $3 in hospitalization costs.

• Smoking cessation programs in pregnancy can save $6 for each $1 spent.
   

What Creates Health?

Costs of Chronic Diseases

• More than 90 million Americans live with chronic illnesses

• Chronic diseases account for 70% of all deaths in the United States

• Chronic diseases account for 1/3 of the years of potential life lost before the age of 65.

• In 1990, the total cost of chronic disease, which includes lost productivity, premature death, and disability, reached $655 billion in the United States.

• The cost of treating chronic disease totals more than 60% of total medical care expenditures.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Annual Report 1994: Health, United States, 1994

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