Chronic disease is the biggest killer of Australians and it’s getting worse, thinktank warns

Almost half of Australians now live with one chronic disease and almost half of Australians over the age of 65 live with two or more. Photograph: Andriy Popov/Alamy

Chronic disease is Australia’s biggest killer, contributing to nearly 90% of deaths, a new Grattan Institute report has warned.

Yet prevention of chronic disease remains underfunded and unless the government does more, millions more Australians will suffer avoidable illnesses, the report says.