Source: Becker's Hospital Review

News
March 17, 2025

West Virginia has the highest proportion of adults with at least one chronic condition of any state, according to new analysis from KFF. Colorado ranks among the states with the lowest prevalence of chronic disease, with 51.8% of adults reporting at least one condition, placing it in the bottom third of states nationwide.

The report is based on 2023 survey data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Figures represent the percentage of adults ages 18 to 64 who reported at least one of the following health conditions: hypertension, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression or kidney disease.

While chronic disease poses a national challenge — with 54.3% of U.S. adults reporting at least one condition in 2023 — the analysis revealed notable regional differences. Chronic disease rates were most concentrated in the South and Appalachia regions, where access to preventive care, socioeconomic factors and higher rates of comorbidities may contribute to greater disease burden. Meanwhile, states like California, Hawaii and New Jersey reported the lowest rates, suggesting possible differences in healthcare access, demographics and public health strategies.

For health systems, these figures reinforce the need for expanded chronic disease management programs and preventive care efforts — especially in high-burden states.

Here’s how each state and Washington, D.C., stacks up:

Note: Survey data for Kentucky and Pennsylvania was not available. 

West Virginia — 69.6%

Louisiana — 62.5%

Tennessee — 62.1%

Arkansas — 61.8%

Alabama — 61.6%

Maine — 61.1%

Michigan — 60.3%

Oklahoma — 60.1%

Ohio — 59.9%

Oregon — 59.7%

Mississippi — 59.2%

Indiana — 59.0%

Missouri — 58.5%

Vermont — 58.5%

New Hampshire — 58.3%

South Dakota — 57.8%

Montana — 57.7%

Delaware — 57.3%

North Carolina — 57.2%

South Carolina — 57.2%

Nevada — 57.1%

Wisconsin — 57.0%

Rhode Island — 56.7%

Kansas — 56.5%

Wyoming — 55.5%

Maryland — 55.3%

Utah — 55.3%

Massachusetts — 55.0%

Alaska — 54.9%

New Mexico — 54.8%

Minnesota — 54.7%

Washington — 54.7%

Virginia — 54.6%

Idaho — 54.5%

Iowa — 54.2%

North Dakota — 53.8%

Arizona — 52.8%

Georgia — 52.4%

Illinois — 52.4%

Texas — 52.3%

Colorado — 51.8%

Connecticut — 51.8%

Nebraska — 51.5%

Florida — 51.0%

New York — 50.1%

California — 49.8%

Hawaii — 49.4%

New Jersey — 48.9%

District of Columbia — 48.5%

View the full analysis here.

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