Chronic Disease

A chronic disease is a health condition that persists for a year or more, requires ongoing medical attention, and limits daily activities. Examples include diabetes, heart disease, asthma, hypertension, arthritis, and dementia. Chronic diseases affect approximately 60% of adults globally and account for 74% of all deaths. They are particularly significant in accessibility contexts because they impose variable, evolving, and often compounding functional limitations — including vision loss, motor impairment, cognitive changes, and fatigue — that affect how individuals interact with technology. Designing digital tools for chronic disease self-management requires adaptive, inclusive approaches that accommodate fluctuating capabilities rather than static disability profiles.