Long term conditions

Long-term conditions are defined as conditions that cannot currently be cured but can be managed through treatment and care, for example diabetes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), macular degeneration, and mental health conditions.

The prevalence of long-term conditions is increasing in the UK, partly due to an ageing population, but also due to lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, and smoking. It is estimated that approximately 15 million people in England have at least one long-term condition,** and this is projected to rise to 18 million by 2025.***

The NHS face significant challenges in the management of long-term conditions. These include increasing demand for services, limited resources, and difficulties in providing integrated care across different services and settings.

There is also a need for greater patient education and self-management support, to enable people with long-term conditions to better manage their own health and reduce the burden on healthcare services.

_{* Barnett, K et al. 2012. Epidemiology of multimorbidity and implications for health care, research, and medical education: a cross-sectional study. The Lancet (Volume 380, No. 9836).}

_{** Department of Health (2012). Report. Long-term conditions compendium of Information: 3rd edition}

_{*** The state of health care and adult social care in England 2018/19, Care Quality Commission (CQC)}

We want to dramatically improve the life chances of people in our region and nationally living with long term conditions.

Our research will help us to better understand the causes of long-term conditions and to assess the impact of this on patients themselves and also on health services.

By improving understanding, we can develop services based on the specific needs of patients – services which can be delivered effectively and efficiently. We can also provide guidance to clinicians and individuals about how to prevent and manage long term conditions, ultimately improving quality of life.