Barriers to Care in Chronic Disease: How to Bridge the Treatment Gap

Over the past few decades, the management of chronic disease has assumed a greater role in health care. Diseases such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and depression—and their associated complications—have replaced acute disorders as the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditures.1,2 Our understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of many chronic diseases has increased in recent years. However, improvements in patient outcomes have not kept pace with the advances in knowledge.