Chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last one year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. In California, the leading cause of death in 2021 according to the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS), was heart disease. In San Bernardino County, high cholesterol was the most prevalent chronic disease among adults in 2021 and the prevalence of high cholesterol significantly increased between 2017 and 2021.
Key findings from the CHA included:
Among 58 counties in California, San Bernardino County ranks:
- 48th for chronic respiratory disease
- 47th for coronary heart disease
- 42nd for all types of cancer
- Obesity in adults continues to increase in San Bernardino County and is consistently higher than obesity rates in California. 38.1% of San Bernardino County adult residents were obese in 2021, an increase from 30.6% in 2017 and significantly higher than 28.7% of adults living elsewhere in the State.
- Self-reported overall health has been shown to be powerful at predicting mortality. 20.9% of adults in San Bernardino County self-reported poor or fair health in 2021 compared to adults living elsewhere in California at 18.0%.
- High cholesterol was the most prevalent chronic disease among adults in 2021, at 32.6% of adults, followed by high blood pressure (30.2% of adults). The prevalence of high cholesterol has significantly increased from 27.7% in 2017 to 32.6% in 2021 in San Bernardino County.