GITNUXREPORT 2026

Critical Illness Statistics

Critical illnesses are devastatingly common but prevention and modern treatments can help.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Critical illnesses cost the US $217 billion annually in medical expenses.

Statistic 2

Cancer treatment costs average $83,000 per patient in the first year post-diagnosis.

Statistic 3

Cardiovascular disease economic burden is $1 trillion globally per year.

Statistic 4

Stroke costs US $46 billion yearly in healthcare and lost productivity.

Statistic 5

Diabetes costs $327 billion annually in the US.

Statistic 6

CKD costs Medicare $114 billion yearly.

Statistic 7

Alzheimer's costs $360 billion in US in 2023.

Statistic 8

Sepsis hospitalization costs $62 billion yearly in US.

Statistic 9

Parkinson's annual cost per patient is $52,000 in US.

Statistic 10

MS costs $2.5 billion yearly in direct medical costs in US.

Statistic 11

Aortic aneurysm repair costs $30,000-$50,000 per procedure.

Statistic 12

Burn care costs average $9,000 per %TBSA burned.

Statistic 13

TBI costs $76.5 billion yearly in US.

Statistic 14

Heart failure costs $30.7 billion annually in US.

Statistic 15

Lung cancer treatment costs $125,000 average lifetime.

Statistic 16

Prostate cancer costs US $12 billion yearly.

Statistic 17

Colorectal cancer economic burden $14.4 billion in US.

Statistic 18

Liver cancer costs $800 million yearly in treatment.

Statistic 19

Pancreatic cancer treatment averages $150,000 first year.

Statistic 20

Leukemia costs $1.2 billion in US pediatric cases alone.

Statistic 21

ESRD dialysis costs $90,000 per patient yearly.

Statistic 22

HIV treatment costs $23,000 per patient annually.

Statistic 23

TB treatment costs $1,000-$10,000 per case globally.

Statistic 24

Hepatitis C cure costs $24,000-$100,000 per treatment.

Statistic 25

RA costs $39.2 billion yearly in US medical and indirect.

Statistic 26

In 2020, cancer accounted for nearly 10 million deaths worldwide, making it the second leading cause of death.

Statistic 27

Heart disease and stroke caused 17.9 million deaths globally in 2019.

Statistic 28

Stroke occurs in about 795,000 people in the US each year.

Statistic 29

Approximately 1 in 6 women and 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime in the US.

Statistic 30

Diabetes affects over 537 million adults worldwide as of 2021.

Statistic 31

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects about 10% of the global population.

Statistic 32

Alzheimer's disease affects around 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older in 2021.

Statistic 33

Major organ failure contributes to 50% of deaths in intensive care units.

Statistic 34

Sepsis affects about 49 million people globally each year.

Statistic 35

Parkinson's disease prevalence is estimated at 1% of people over 60 worldwide.

Statistic 36

Multiple sclerosis affects 2.8 million people worldwide.

Statistic 37

Aortic aneurysm prevalence is about 4-8% in people over 65.

Statistic 38

Blindness from critical illnesses like diabetic retinopathy affects 2.2 billion people globally.

Statistic 39

Major burns (critical illness) affect 11 million people annually worldwide.

Statistic 40

Coma from critical brain injury occurs in 1.5 million US cases yearly.

Statistic 41

Coronary artery bypass grafting is performed on 200,000 Americans annually.

Statistic 42

Heart failure affects 6.2 million adults in the US.

Statistic 43

Lung cancer incidence is 2.2 million new cases globally per year.

Statistic 44

Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men worldwide.

Statistic 45

Colorectal cancer new cases: 1.9 million globally in 2020.

Statistic 46

Liver cancer: 905,677 new cases worldwide in 2020.

Statistic 47

Pancreatic cancer: 495,773 new cases globally in 2020.

Statistic 48

Leukemia: 474,519 new cases worldwide in 2020.

Statistic 49

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: 544,352 new cases in 2020 globally.

Statistic 50

End-stage renal disease affects 750,000 people in the US.

Statistic 51

HIV/AIDS as critical illness: 38 million living with HIV globally.

Statistic 52

Tuberculosis: 10 million new cases yearly worldwide.

Statistic 53

Hepatitis C chronic cases: 58 million globally.

Statistic 54

Rheumatoid arthritis prevalence: 1% of global population.

Statistic 55

Systemic lupus erythematosus affects 5 million people worldwide.

Statistic 56

Cancer caused 10 million deaths globally in 2020.

Statistic 57

Cardiovascular diseases kill 17.9 million people annually worldwide.

Statistic 58

Stroke mortality: 6.55 million deaths globally in 2019.

Statistic 59

Breast cancer kills 685,000 women yearly worldwide.

Statistic 60

Diabetes leads to 1.5 million deaths per year globally.

Statistic 61

CKD is the 9th leading cause of death in the US.

Statistic 62

Alzheimer's contributes to 119,399 deaths yearly in the US.

Statistic 63

Sepsis causes 11 million deaths annually worldwide (20% fatality).

Statistic 64

Parkinson's disease mortality rate is increasing by 2.5% yearly.

Statistic 65

MS mortality: average life expectancy reduced by 7 years.

Statistic 66

Ruptured aortic aneurysm has 80-90% mortality rate without surgery.

Statistic 67

Severe burns have 30-50% mortality in extensive cases.

Statistic 68

Traumatic brain injury mortality: 61,000 deaths yearly in US.

Statistic 69

Heart failure 5-year mortality rate is 50%.

Statistic 70

Lung cancer 5-year survival rate is 22% globally.

Statistic 71

Prostate cancer mortality: 366,000 deaths globally in 2020.

Statistic 72

Colorectal cancer kills 930,000 yearly worldwide.

Statistic 73

Liver cancer mortality: 830,180 deaths in 2020 globally.

Statistic 74

Pancreatic cancer 5-year survival rate is 11%.

Statistic 75

Leukemia mortality: 311,127 deaths in 2020 worldwide.

Statistic 76

ESRD mortality rate is 16-18% per year on dialysis.

Statistic 77

HIV/AIDS caused 680,000 deaths in 2020 globally.

Statistic 78

TB mortality: 1.3 million deaths in 2022 worldwide.

Statistic 79

Hepatitis C causes 290,000 deaths yearly.

Statistic 80

Rheumatoid arthritis increases mortality risk by 1.5-2 fold.

Statistic 81

Lupus mortality rate is 10-15% higher than general population.

Statistic 82

70% of cancers preventable through lifestyle changes.

Statistic 83

Statins reduce heart attack risk by 25-35%.

Statistic 84

Blood pressure control reduces stroke risk by 35-40%.

Statistic 85

Mammography screening reduces breast cancer mortality by 20-40%.

Statistic 86

Metformin reduces diabetes complications by 30%.

Statistic 87

ACE inhibitors slow CKD progression by 30-50%.

Statistic 88

Donepezil improves Alzheimer's cognition in 50% of patients short-term.

Statistic 89

Early antibiotics reduce sepsis mortality by 50%.

Statistic 90

Levodopa controls Parkinson's symptoms in 75% initially.

Statistic 91

Disease-modifying therapies slow MS progression by 30-70%.

Statistic 92

Endovascular repair successful in 95% of aortic aneurysms.

Statistic 93

Skin grafts succeed in 90% of burn cases.

Statistic 94

Rehabilitation improves TBI recovery in 60-80% of survivors.

Statistic 95

ICDs prevent sudden cardiac death in 30% of heart failure patients.

Statistic 96

Immunotherapy achieves 20-30% long-term lung cancer remission.

Statistic 97

Prostatectomy cures 90% early-stage prostate cancer.

Statistic 98

Colonoscopy prevents 75% of colorectal cancer deaths.

Statistic 99

Antivirals cure 95% of hepatitis C cases.

Statistic 100

Whipple procedure 5-year survival 25% for pancreatic cancer.

Statistic 101

Chemotherapy remission in 80% acute leukemia cases.

Statistic 102

Kidney transplant 1-year survival 97%.

Statistic 103

ART suppresses HIV in 95% of adherent patients.

Statistic 104

DOTS cures 85% of TB cases.

Statistic 105

DMARDs control RA symptoms in 60-70% of patients.

Statistic 106

Hydroxychloroquine reduces lupus flares by 50%.

Statistic 107

Smoking is responsible for 85% of lung cancers.

Statistic 108

Hypertension affects 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 worldwide.

Statistic 109

Obesity triples the risk of heart failure.

Statistic 110

Diabetes increases stroke risk by 2-4 times.

Statistic 111

Family history doubles breast cancer risk.

Statistic 112

Age over 65 increases CKD risk by 30-fold.

Statistic 113

APOE-e4 gene increases Alzheimer's risk 3-15 times.

Statistic 114

Smoking doubles sepsis risk in ICU patients.

Statistic 115

Men have 1.5 times higher Parkinson's risk.

Statistic 116

Vitamin D deficiency linked to 30% higher MS risk.

Statistic 117

Smoking increases aortic aneurysm risk by 5 times.

Statistic 118

Diabetes causes 90% of severe vision loss cases.

Statistic 119

High cholesterol contributes to 2.6 million deaths yearly.

Statistic 120

Alcohol abuse increases liver cancer risk 5-fold.

Statistic 121

African Americans have 30% higher hypertension rate.

Statistic 122

Sedentary lifestyle raises heart disease risk by 147%.

Statistic 123

HPV infection causes 70% of cervical cancers.

Statistic 124

80% of colorectal cancers preventable by lifestyle changes.

Statistic 125

Men over 50 have 2x higher pancreatic cancer risk.

Statistic 126

Obesity increases leukemia risk by 20-50%.

Statistic 127

45% of ESRD cases due to diabetes.

Statistic 128

Unprotected sex is main HIV transmission risk (85%).

Statistic 129

Malnutrition doubles TB mortality risk.

Statistic 130

IV drug use causes 10% of hepatitis C cases.

Statistic 131

Smoking exacerbates rheumatoid arthritis in 20-30% of cases.

1/131

Sources

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Every single one of these statistics represents a person, a family, and a story, which is why understanding the staggering reality of critical illness is the first step toward empowerment and protection.

Key Takeaways

In 2020, cancer accounted for nearly 10 million deaths worldwide, making it the second leading cause of death.
Heart disease and stroke caused 17.9 million deaths globally in 2019.
Stroke occurs in about 795,000 people in the US each year.
Cancer caused 10 million deaths globally in 2020.
Cardiovascular diseases kill 17.9 million people annually worldwide.
Stroke mortality: 6.55 million deaths globally in 2019.
Smoking is responsible for 85% of lung cancers.
Hypertension affects 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 worldwide.
Obesity triples the risk of heart failure.
Critical illnesses cost the US $217 billion annually in medical expenses.
Cancer treatment costs average $83,000 per patient in the first year post-diagnosis.
Cardiovascular disease economic burden is $1 trillion globally per year.
70% of cancers preventable through lifestyle changes.
Statins reduce heart attack risk by 25-35%.
Blood pressure control reduces stroke risk by 35-40%.

Critical illnesses are devastatingly common but prevention and modern treatments can help.

Economic and Social Impact

Critical illnesses cost the US $217 billion annually in medical expenses.
Cancer treatment costs average $83,000 per patient in the first year post-diagnosis.
Cardiovascular disease economic burden is $1 trillion globally per year.
Stroke costs US $46 billion yearly in healthcare and lost productivity.
Diabetes costs $327 billion annually in the US.
CKD costs Medicare $114 billion yearly.
Alzheimer's costs $360 billion in US in 2023.
Sepsis hospitalization costs $62 billion yearly in US.
Parkinson's annual cost per patient is $52,000 in US.
MS costs $2.5 billion yearly in direct medical costs in US.
Aortic aneurysm repair costs $30,000-$50,000 per procedure.
Burn care costs average $9,000 per %TBSA burned.
TBI costs $76.5 billion yearly in US.
Heart failure costs $30.7 billion annually in US.
Lung cancer treatment costs $125,000 average lifetime.
Prostate cancer costs US $12 billion yearly.
Colorectal cancer economic burden $14.4 billion in US.
Liver cancer costs $800 million yearly in treatment.
Pancreatic cancer treatment averages $150,000 first year.
Leukemia costs $1.2 billion in US pediatric cases alone.
ESRD dialysis costs $90,000 per patient yearly.
HIV treatment costs $23,000 per patient annually.
TB treatment costs $1,000-$10,000 per case globally.
Hepatitis C cure costs $24,000-$100,000 per treatment.
RA costs $39.2 billion yearly in US medical and indirect.

Economic and Social Impact Interpretation

If you ever needed a grimly efficient argument for a healthier lifestyle and better preventative care, the collective financial hemorrhage from critical illnesses, which reads like a dystopian itemized receipt for the human body, is it.

Incidence and Prevalence

In 2020, cancer accounted for nearly 10 million deaths worldwide, making it the second leading cause of death.
Heart disease and stroke caused 17.9 million deaths globally in 2019.
Stroke occurs in about 795,000 people in the US each year.
Approximately 1 in 6 women and 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime in the US.
Diabetes affects over 537 million adults worldwide as of 2021.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects about 10% of the global population.
Alzheimer's disease affects around 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older in 2021.
Major organ failure contributes to 50% of deaths in intensive care units.
Sepsis affects about 49 million people globally each year.
Parkinson's disease prevalence is estimated at 1% of people over 60 worldwide.
Multiple sclerosis affects 2.8 million people worldwide.
Aortic aneurysm prevalence is about 4-8% in people over 65.
Blindness from critical illnesses like diabetic retinopathy affects 2.2 billion people globally.
Major burns (critical illness) affect 11 million people annually worldwide.
Coma from critical brain injury occurs in 1.5 million US cases yearly.
Coronary artery bypass grafting is performed on 200,000 Americans annually.
Heart failure affects 6.2 million adults in the US.
Lung cancer incidence is 2.2 million new cases globally per year.
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men worldwide.
Colorectal cancer new cases: 1.9 million globally in 2020.
Liver cancer: 905,677 new cases worldwide in 2020.
Pancreatic cancer: 495,773 new cases globally in 2020.
Leukemia: 474,519 new cases worldwide in 2020.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: 544,352 new cases in 2020 globally.
End-stage renal disease affects 750,000 people in the US.
HIV/AIDS as critical illness: 38 million living with HIV globally.
Tuberculosis: 10 million new cases yearly worldwide.
Hepatitis C chronic cases: 58 million globally.
Rheumatoid arthritis prevalence: 1% of global population.
Systemic lupus erythematosus affects 5 million people worldwide.

Incidence and Prevalence Interpretation

While these staggering numbers might feel like abstract statistics, each one represents a life suddenly facing a battle no one ever plans for.

Mortality and Survival Rates

Cancer caused 10 million deaths globally in 2020.
Cardiovascular diseases kill 17.9 million people annually worldwide.
Stroke mortality: 6.55 million deaths globally in 2019.
Breast cancer kills 685,000 women yearly worldwide.
Diabetes leads to 1.5 million deaths per year globally.
CKD is the 9th leading cause of death in the US.
Alzheimer's contributes to 119,399 deaths yearly in the US.
Sepsis causes 11 million deaths annually worldwide (20% fatality).
Parkinson's disease mortality rate is increasing by 2.5% yearly.
MS mortality: average life expectancy reduced by 7 years.
Ruptured aortic aneurysm has 80-90% mortality rate without surgery.
Severe burns have 30-50% mortality in extensive cases.
Traumatic brain injury mortality: 61,000 deaths yearly in US.
Heart failure 5-year mortality rate is 50%.
Lung cancer 5-year survival rate is 22% globally.
Prostate cancer mortality: 366,000 deaths globally in 2020.
Colorectal cancer kills 930,000 yearly worldwide.
Liver cancer mortality: 830,180 deaths in 2020 globally.
Pancreatic cancer 5-year survival rate is 11%.
Leukemia mortality: 311,127 deaths in 2020 worldwide.
ESRD mortality rate is 16-18% per year on dialysis.
HIV/AIDS caused 680,000 deaths in 2020 globally.
TB mortality: 1.3 million deaths in 2022 worldwide.
Hepatitis C causes 290,000 deaths yearly.
Rheumatoid arthritis increases mortality risk by 1.5-2 fold.
Lupus mortality rate is 10-15% higher than general population.

Mortality and Survival Rates Interpretation

Here is a one-sentence interpretation: It seems our bodies are running a rather grim lottery, where the grand prizes are things we'd very much prefer not to win.

Prevention and Treatment Statistics

70% of cancers preventable through lifestyle changes.
Statins reduce heart attack risk by 25-35%.
Blood pressure control reduces stroke risk by 35-40%.
Mammography screening reduces breast cancer mortality by 20-40%.
Metformin reduces diabetes complications by 30%.
ACE inhibitors slow CKD progression by 30-50%.
Donepezil improves Alzheimer's cognition in 50% of patients short-term.
Early antibiotics reduce sepsis mortality by 50%.
Levodopa controls Parkinson's symptoms in 75% initially.
Disease-modifying therapies slow MS progression by 30-70%.
Endovascular repair successful in 95% of aortic aneurysms.
Skin grafts succeed in 90% of burn cases.
Rehabilitation improves TBI recovery in 60-80% of survivors.
ICDs prevent sudden cardiac death in 30% of heart failure patients.
Immunotherapy achieves 20-30% long-term lung cancer remission.
Prostatectomy cures 90% early-stage prostate cancer.
Colonoscopy prevents 75% of colorectal cancer deaths.
Antivirals cure 95% of hepatitis C cases.
Whipple procedure 5-year survival 25% for pancreatic cancer.
Chemotherapy remission in 80% acute leukemia cases.
Kidney transplant 1-year survival 97%.
ART suppresses HIV in 95% of adherent patients.
DOTS cures 85% of TB cases.
DMARDs control RA symptoms in 60-70% of patients.
Hydroxychloroquine reduces lupus flares by 50%.

Prevention and Treatment Statistics Interpretation

Medicine’s greatest irony is that our most heroic interventions come with such modest, percentage-point victories, while so many of the battles they fight could have been avoided altogether by simply choosing a salad and a brisk walk.

Risk Factors and Demographics

Smoking is responsible for 85% of lung cancers.
Hypertension affects 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 worldwide.
Obesity triples the risk of heart failure.
Diabetes increases stroke risk by 2-4 times.
Family history doubles breast cancer risk.
Age over 65 increases CKD risk by 30-fold.
APOE-e4 gene increases Alzheimer's risk 3-15 times.
Smoking doubles sepsis risk in ICU patients.
Men have 1.5 times higher Parkinson's risk.
Vitamin D deficiency linked to 30% higher MS risk.
Smoking increases aortic aneurysm risk by 5 times.
Diabetes causes 90% of severe vision loss cases.
High cholesterol contributes to 2.6 million deaths yearly.
Alcohol abuse increases liver cancer risk 5-fold.
African Americans have 30% higher hypertension rate.
Sedentary lifestyle raises heart disease risk by 147%.
HPV infection causes 70% of cervical cancers.
80% of colorectal cancers preventable by lifestyle changes.
Men over 50 have 2x higher pancreatic cancer risk.
Obesity increases leukemia risk by 20-50%.
45% of ESRD cases due to diabetes.
Unprotected sex is main HIV transmission risk (85%).
Malnutrition doubles TB mortality risk.
IV drug use causes 10% of hepatitis C cases.
Smoking exacerbates rheumatoid arthritis in 20-30% of cases.

Risk Factors and Demographics Interpretation

In the grim calculus of health, our choices and circumstances write a staggering majority of our medical bills, proving that while fate may deal the hand, we are the ones who so often choose to play it poorly.

Sources & References

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