Do chronic illnesses and poverty go hand in hand?

Abstract

In the global context, the health and quality of life of people are adversely affected by either one or more types of chronic diseases. The chronic pain associated with diagnosed patients may include heavy medical expenditure along with the physical and mental suffering they undergo. Usually, unbearable amounts of medical expenses are incurred, to improve or sustain the health condition of the patient. Consequently, the heavy financial burden tends to push households from a comfortable or secure life, or even from bad to worse, towards the probability of becoming poor. Hence, this study is conducted to identify the impact chronic illnesses have on poverty using data from a national survey referred as the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), with data gathered by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) of Sri Lanka in 2016. As such, this study is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, declaring the originality of the study based on data collected from the local arena. Accordingly, the study discovered that married females who do not engage in any type of economic activity, in the age category of 40–65, having an educational level of tertiary level or below and living in the urban sector have a higher likelihood of suffering from chronic diseases. Moreover, it was inferred that, if a person is deprived from access to basic education in the level of education, lives in the rural or estate sector, or suffers from a brain disease, cancer, heart disease or kidney disease, he is highly likely to be poor. Some insights concluded from this Sri Lankan case study can also be applied in the context of other developing countries, to minimise chronic illnesses and thereby the probability of falling into poverty.

Investigation and influencing factors about well-being level of elderly chronic patients during COVID-19 postpandemic period in Beijing

“…[19] The major economic income of elderly in China come from pension and their adult children, the higher economic income means abundant medical security and lower psychological stress for chronic disease elderly. [20] During the COVID-19 period, the elderly had to spend a certain amount expense to cure disease and maintain their physical health while suffering and limited activity disturbed their life. Without sufficient financial resources to support the medical costs of chronic diseases can bring financial burden for individuals and families, as reducing the life satisfaction of elderly patients accompanied by a forceful negative psychological impact.…”

“…Research data domestic and overseas manifested that medical costs have become one of the most important factors of well-being level of elderly chronic patients [19] . The major economic income of elderly in China come from pension and their adult children, the higher economic income means abundant medical security and lower psychological stress for chronic disease elderly [20] . During the COVID-19 period, the elderly had to spend a certain amount expense to cure disease and maintain their physical health while suffering and limited activity disturbed their life.…”

The pattern of dyslipidemia among Somali type 2 diabetic patients: a cross-sectional study

“…Due to the country’s protracted civil war, the inability to provide appropriate treatment and follow-up for chronic diseases has resulted in a disregard for the importance of education, social awareness, and lifestyle changes. It should also be acknowledged that poverty and war are serious public health issues that have a negative impact on treatment and survival outcomes [ 18 – 20 ].…”

Health service underutilization and its associated factors for chronic diseases patients in poverty-stricken areas in China: a multilevel analysis

“…Furthermore, this percentage raised to 44.1% in 2015, indicating that ill-health has become the leading cause of impoverishment in China [ 34 ]. Among all the illnesses, chronic diseases have posed an exceptionally weighty financial burden on residents as chronic diseases typically require long-term medical care for management which would broadly restrict patients’ daily activities, thus leading to various problems such as loss of independence, mental sufferings, disabilities or even death [ 35 ]. Lan et al [ 36 ] examined the relationship between the possibility of household poverty and the percentage of family members suffering from chronic diseases.…”

“…Also, rural residents whose family members suffered from chronic diseases were more vulnerable to poverty due to medical-cost-induced financial burden than urban residents [ 36 ]. Therefore, chronic diseases have been addressed as leading factors for the economically disadvantaged group worldwide, especially for those living in LMICs [ 35 ].…”