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Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
United States Value:
Percentage of adults who have three or more of the following chronic health conditions: arthritis, asthma, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease (heart disease, heart attack or stroke), cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), depression or diabetes
Percentage of adults age 65 and older who have three or more of the following chronic health conditions: arthritis, asthma, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease (heart disease, heart attack or stroke), cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), depression or diabetes
18.0% - 21.0%
21.1% - 22.3%
22.4% - 23.8%
23.9% - 26.4%
26.5% - 32.4%
No Data
Percentage of adults who have three or more of the following chronic health conditions: arthritis, asthma, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease (heart disease, heart attack or stroke), cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), depression or diabetes
US Value: 11.3 %
Top State(s): California: 8.1 %
Bottom State(s): West Virginia: 20.6 %
Definition: Percentage of adults who have three or more of the following chronic health conditions: arthritis, asthma, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease (heart disease, heart attack or stroke), cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), depression or diabetes
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Chronic conditions are health conditions lasting more than a year that require ongoing medical attention and/or limit daily functions such as eating, bathing and mobility. The more chronic conditions an individual has, the higher their risk of physical, social and cognitive limitations, longer hospital stays, adverse drug events and mortality.
The economic burden of multiple chronic conditions is substantial. Approximately 90% of the $4.9 trillion the U.S. spends on health care each year is for chronic conditions. Adults who have five or more chronic conditions spend 14 times more on health services compared with adults who have no chronic conditions.
According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, populations that have a higher prevalence of three or more chronic conditions include:
There are many actions that an individual can take to reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases, including eating healthy, not smoking, getting regular recommended screenings, engaging in enough regular physical activity and avoiding excessive drinking. These lifestyle modifications can also help manage existing chronic conditions. It is recommended that individuals take an active role in their care by understanding and learning about their chronic conditions and medications, communicating with their health care providers and taking medications as prescribed.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force provides evidence-based evaluations and recommendations for various health care interventions. Their recommendations for chronic disease management include text messaging interventions to improve medication adherence and comprehensive telehealth interventions to support and maintain healthy diets for patients with chronic diseases.
Buttorff, Christine, Teague Ruder, and Melissa Bauman. Multiple Chronic Conditions in the United States. Tools. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2017. https://doi.org/10.7249/TL221.
Skinner, Halcyon G., Rosanna Coffey, Jenna Jones, Kevin C. Heslin, and Ernest Moy. “The Effects of Multiple Chronic Conditions on Hospitalization Costs and Utilization for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions in the United States: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study.” BMC Health Services Research 16, no. 1 (December 2016): 77. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1304-y.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Multiple Chronic Conditions—A Strategic Framework: Optimum Health and Quality of Life for Individuals With Multiple Chronic Conditions. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ash/initiatives/mcc/mcc_framework.pdf.
Vogeli, Christine, Alexandra E. Shields, Todd A. Lee, Teresa B. Gibson, William D. Marder, Kevin B. Weiss, and David Blumenthal. “Multiple Chronic Conditions: Prevalence, Health Consequences, and Implications for Quality, Care Management, and Costs.” Journal of General Internal Medicine 22, no. S3 (December 2007): 391–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0322-1.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
