AWS Public Sector Blog
Living with chronic disease: Thriving by breaking healthcare silos and making wellness choices
Chronic diseases are a growing global health crisis. These long-term conditions, which include cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses, are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. In Europe, chronic diseases account for 77 percent of the total disease burden and 86 percent of all deaths. The situation is equally dire in the US, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that six out of 10 adults currently live with a chronic disease.
The prevalence and cost of chronic diseases continue to escalate. According to 2024 research, the estimated global cost of chronic disease is projected to reach a staggering $47 trillion by 2030. This is driven in part by improvements in healthcare and increased life expectancy—the global average has risen from 67 years in 2000 to 73 years in 2019. Healthcare systems are struggling to keep up, however, with limited resources and budgets to provide comprehensive care for patients with chronic conditions.
Compounding the challenge, the traditional siloed approach to chronic disease management often overlooks the critical role of individual lifestyle, community factors, and holistic wellness. A new model of care is needed: one that empowers patients to take control of their health; integrates clinical, technological, and social support; and addresses the full spectrum of physical, mental, and environmental factors.
In this post, we explore how a patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) was able to successfully reverse her condition by breaking down healthcare silos, taking charge of her treatment and data, and adopting a comprehensive wellness-focused approach. Her firsthand experiences and insights offer a roadmap for managing chronic diseases in a more holistic and effective manner. We also show how Amazon Web Services (AWS) is supporting partners and customers to provide innovative technology building blocks to help solve this growing health challenge.
Journey of a chronic patient
Renal agenesis is a rare birth condition where a baby is born missing one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) kidneys. Unilateral renal agenesis occurs in just one out of every 1,000–2,000 live births, and in 20–36 percent of cases, there is an underlying genetic cause. One of the authors of this post is part of this unique patient population.
Born with a complex case of unilateral renal agenesis, Anjana survived for 12 years on a single kidney. However, her condition continued to decline, eventually reaching end-stage renal disease. Simple daily activities like climbing stairs left her exhausted and out of breath. She was placed on a highly restrictive diet that limited her intake of potassium, phosphate, and calories.
Fortunately, Anjana had the support of her amazing mother, who not only donated a kidney but also coordinated the extensive testing and medical procedures required. The transplant surgery, originally estimated to take three hours, ended up lasting more than eight hours due to complications. It took an additional two months of intensive care and treatment, including hemodialysis and high-dose steroids, before the transplanted kidney began functioning normally.
This experience left Anjana, who went into the hospital as an innocent child, forever changed—both physically and mentally scarred by the ordeal. However, through sheer determination and a commitment to taking control of her health, she has now celebrated 28 years with her transplanted kidney and is the healthiest she has ever been.
Anjana’s personal journey highlights the immense challenges faced by those living with complex, chronic conditions like renal agenesis. It underscores the critical need for comprehensive, patient-centric care models that empower individuals to actively manage their health, integrate clinical and lifestyle interventions, and access the full spectrum of medical and community support.
Breaking healthcare silos and making wellness choices
To address the pressing need for more personalized and empowering chronic disease management, Anjana used a combination of technology, self-monitoring, and integrated care. Through her personal journey, she demonstrated the transformative impact of this integrated, patient-centric approach to chronic disease management, resulting in successful reversal of her condition and achieving the healthiest state she has ever experienced.
At the core of the Anjana’s approach is active monitoring and management of key health indicators such as vital signs, electrolyte levels, and nutritional intake. By regularly self-testing at home and integrating this data with clinical lab results, Anjana maintains tight control over the critical factors that impact her CKD, such as potassium, protein, phosphate, and sodium levels. A key enabler of this success has been Anjana’s commitment to taking control of her health data and treatment plan.
Anjana has also taken charge of her personal medical records, consolidating her clinical, lab, health, and wellness data into a single, comprehensive view. This empowers her to better understand her condition, make informed decisions, and collaborate more effectively with her healthcare providers.
Importantly, Anjana’s solution goes beyond just clinical management. She has also bridged the gap between her chronic condition and overall well-being by incorporating personalized nutrition, fitness, and mental health support. Following this holistic approach, enabled by technology, Anjana can address the full spectrum of factors that influence her health and quality of life. For example, Anjana has used her healthcare expertise and strong support network to bridge the gaps in her care. She has collaborated closely with her medical team, nutritionists, and fitness coaches to create a comprehensive, personalized plan that addresses her physical, mental, and social wellbeing. This holistic approach has been key to Anjana’s ability to successfully manage her chronic condition and thrive.
Anjana’s story serves as a powerful example of how technology, self-monitoring, and integrated care can empower patients to take control of their health and achieve better outcomes, even in the face of complex, chronic diseases.
Conclusion
In this post, we discussed how chronic diseases pose a growing threat to global health, with staggering human and economic costs. Healthcare systems are overburdened, constrained by limited resources and fragmented care models. To successfully manage chronic diseases in the long term, a more holistic, patient-centric approach is urgently needed. We profiled how Anjana’s personal journey with chronic kidney disease provides a powerful blueprint for this new paradigm of care. By taking control of her treatment, making lifestyle changes, closely monitoring her health data, and integrating clinical, nutritional, and wellness support, Anjana was able to reverse her condition and achieve a new level of health.
The key lessons from Anjana’s experience include the critical importance of:
- Empowering patients to be active participants in their care
- Taking advantage of technology to consolidate and derive insights from health data
- Providing personalized, simplified medical information and guidance
- Bridging the gap between physical disease management and overall well-being
By adopting this comprehensive, patient-driven approach, healthcare systems can better support individuals living with chronic conditions and improve long-term outcomes. Ultimately, Anjana’s story serves as an inspiring example of how a holistic, technology-enabled model of care can transform the lives of those facing the challenges of chronic disease.
Watch Anjana’s personal story that was shared at re:Invent 2024 and AWS Worldwide Public Sector Vice President Dave Levy’s Keynote session to learn about AWS Partner EXTEDO’s innovative solutions using Amazon Bedrock for generative artificial intelligence (AI) to empower patients and transform the way healthcare is delivered.