The following table summarizes some characteristics of chronic vs. acute health conditions (Holman, 2020; Murrows & Oglesby, 1996):
| Acute |
Chronic |
- A limited period of time
- Development of symptoms are usually instant
- Cause is clearly identified
- Affects a portion of the body
- Usually able to presume prior lifestyle but sometimes can lead to permanent disability
|
- Long term, often over 3-month period to a lifetime
- The development of symptoms and severity is gradual
- Cause is not clearly identified
- Treatment and management focused, often with no cure
- It can often affect multiple systems within the body
- Lifestyle changes and constant management are often required
|
Table 1: A comparison of acute and chronic health conditions.
