A study conducted by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) found that $98 billion was spent treating six common chronic conditions in California in 2010. These conditions were responsible for 42 percent of all health expenditures in the state and included arthritis, asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and depression.

The study estimated that $37 billion (16 percent of all health care costs) was spent annually for cardiovascular disease, followed by diabetes ($13 billion), arthritis ($14 billion) and cancer ($14 billion).

Researchers found there were large variations in the cost of chronic conditions among California’s 58 counties, ranging from $3.5 million for Alpine County (1,100 individuals) to $24.4 billion for Los Angeles County (9.8 million individuals).

For over 150 years, CMA has taken on public health issues and sponsored legislation that would lighten the burden of chronic disease in California. Since 1964, when the California Medical Association (CMA) first publicized the harmful effects of cigarette smoking, the organization has been doing its part to prevent asthma, cancers and cardiovascular disease due to the effects of smoking. CMA is currently involved, as a lead partner in the Save Lives Coalition, in efforts to decrease the burden of tobacco-related chronic conditions through an increase in the tobacco tax.

Click here to read the study. Click here to learn more about Save Lives California.