Morbidity

TL;DR

• A measure of how common illness or poor health is within a population, often expressed as prevalence or incidence.
• High morbidity can reduce individual quality of life and increase healthcare costs and lost productivity.
• Conditions such as obesity and mental illness are examples that have contributed to rising morbidity rates.

Definition

Morbidity refers to the state of being unhealthy or having a disease or medical condition. It is typically used to describe the prevalence or incidence of a specific illness or condition within a population.

Explanation

Morbidity quantifies how frequently people in a population experience disease or poor health, commonly reported as prevalence or incidence. It affects individuals by reducing quality of life, limiting participation in activities, requiring ongoing medical treatment, and increasing healthcare expenses. At the community and societal level, high morbidity can strain healthcare resources, reduce access to care, and cause lost productivity. In many places, morbidity rates for certain conditions have been rising, which has led to calls for prevention efforts focused on promoting healthy lifestyles and addressing root causes of chronic diseases and medical conditions.

Examples

Obesity in the United States

One example of morbidity is the widespread prevalence of obesity in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one third of adults in the country are obese, which puts them at increased risk for a number of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. The prevalence of obesity has been on the rise in recent years, contributing to a rise in morbidity rates in the population.

Mental illness in the United States

Another example of morbidity is the high rate of mental illness in the United States. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that nearly one in five adults in the country experiences some form of mental illness in a given year. This includes conditions such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, which can greatly impact a person’s overall health and well-being. The prevalence of mental illness in the population has been increasing, leading to a rise in morbidity rates.

Use cases

• (No explicit use cases beyond examples are described in the source.)

Notes or pitfalls

• (No explicit notes or pitfalls are described in the source.)

Related terms

• prevalence
• incidence
• chronic diseases
• prevention