Chronic diseases threaten societies and economies. What role does income play?

In Greece, the percentage of the population with chronic health problems is about 24%. According to OECD research, most chronic diseases occur among the poorest rather than the richest, further highlighting socioeconomic inequalities.

Chronic diseases entail not only large social, but also significant financial costs. According to the latest OECD health report, in Greece the percentage of the population with such problems is about 24%. This is the data for 2021 that the organization released, placing our country at the bottom of the corresponding list that the Economic Post presents today.

Greece ranks third in the world for resistant infections. Only Italy and Romania had a lower percentage than Greece – below 20%, as well as Bulgaria with a percentage very close to Greece’s. In contrast, the highest percentages were recorded in Finland (more than 50%), Estonia (about 48%), Portugal and Germany (about 43%).

In OECD countries, on average, 43% of people (of the 20% with low incomes) report chronic diseases or health problems. The corresponding figure for the top 20% of income earners is much lower at 27%.

The gap is largest in Lithuania, Belgium, Estonia and Ireland, where people on low incomes are two or more times more likely to have at least one chronic disease or other serious health problem compared to people with more high level of income.

This health care income gap is smaller in Italy and Turkey. The gap also appears small in Greece, with the corresponding percentages being around 25% and 20% between the poorest and richest citizens.

Either way, the OECD warns that national health systems must be better prepared to provide high-quality chronic disease care to meet the needs of an – on average – aging population.

Diseases such as cancer Chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes are classified as chronic. They are not only the leading causes of death in OECD countries, but also a significant burden on society and the economy. On average in 2021, across 24 OECD countries, more than a third of people aged 16 years and over reported living with a chronic disease or health condition. In addition, as the population ages, the incidence of chronic diseases is increasing.

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