An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

Abstract

Healthcare systems focus on treating rather than preventing acute or chronic illness. Chronic medical conditions are the leading cause of high healthcare expenditures. They reduce patient and caregiver quality of life, affecting their wellbeing and impacting their familial relationships and finances. A strong link exists between chronic conditions and the development of depression, anxiety, and dementia, resulting in worse clinical outcomes. Medications used for treatment of depression, anxiety and neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia increase the risk of negative side effects, such as constipation, dizziness, and orthostatic hypotension. In turn, these symptoms can exacerbate underlying chronic medical conditions. Preventive care improves a person's lifespan while helping to maintain a high quality of life. Early interventions result in better outcomes and significant financial savings for the patient and the healthcare system, while also reducing healthcare disparities. At the same time, proactive interventions decrease the risk of physical and cognitive disability, providing patients with more years of independence and lessening caregiver reliance. Millions of patients underutilize these services. In fee-for-service systems, disease treatment is prioritized over prevention for chronic medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Proactive interventions to reduce the risk of infections, osteoporosis, fractures, falls, and major neurocognitive disorders in older adults are less widely known and implemented. Interdisciplinary teams have effectively improved outcomes for patients with chronic medical conditions. To improve health outcomes and reduce the risk of disease, all specialists, including geriatric psychiatrists, need to be included in preventive efforts.