These CHCF-funded reports of findings from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) provide information to help counties and local health systems identify areas with high rates of chronic conditions and assist them in meeting the needs of chronically ill patients.

The reports include exhibits and maps outlining California statistics related to heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. The 2005 and 2007 editions introduce measures of adult psychological distress, active asthma, and congestive heart failure. They also provide prevalence rates and examine selected characteristics, such as Medi-Cal enrollment, ethnicity, and income status of those with chronic conditions.

Access to health care is particularly crucial for Californians with chronic illness. The report presents composites of access indicators that describe problems and barriers patients face when seeking care. Considering that regular monitoring can prevent costly complications, maintaining a well-organized and accessible health service system can reduce medical care costs and improve health outcomes associated with chronic conditions.

Findings from the 2007 report include:

• Overall, 25% of adults and 23% of children in California with at least one chronic condition experienced barriers to health care.
• Approximately 7 million California adults aged 18 and older (26%) had been diagnosed with hypertension at some point in their lifetime.
• Nearly 8% of the adult population in California reported a diabetes diagnosis. Of these, 34% were adults 65 or older.
• Kern County and Lake County reported the highest burden of chronic health conditions statewide.

The reports are available under Document Downloads.