“The greatest social and financial impact of modern genetics on our healthcare system will be the prevention of disease and disability. Chronic disease causes the largest amount of morbidity and mortality to society and accounts for more than 80 percent of healthcare costs. For example, over 50 percent of the adult population (1.56 billion worldwide by 2025) has either hypertension and/or salt sensitivity (American Heart Association, 2009). Over 39.8 million American adults; more than 57 percent are overweight (Centers for Disease Control, 2009). As a consequence of rampant obesity, the rate of diabetes is increasing with 16 million Americans having already been diagnosed (American Diabetes Association, 2009).”
Article
Robin A. Felder, HIMSS News, March 2010
