FOI 24/25-0223

Document 14

Definitions below have been taken from The Australian Government Department of Health (DoH) [1] website (acronyms and glossary section) or Mosby’s Medical Dictionary [2] which is utilised by medical and allied health professionals in Australia.

Chronic health/medical condition

1.1

Term applied to a diverse group of diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and arthritis (to name a few), that tend to be long-lasting and persistent in their symptoms or development. Although these features also apply to some communicable diseases (infections), the general term chronic diseases is usually confined to non-communicable diseases [1].

1.2

A disease that persists over a long period. The symptoms of chronic disease are sometimes less severe than those of the acute phase of the same disease. Chronic disease may be progressive, result in complete or partial disability, or even lead to death [2].

There is no consensus over what constitutes a ‘long period’ of time. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that “chronic disease are defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both” [3].

Acute health/medical condition

2.1

Coming on sharply and often brief, intense and severe [1].

2.2

A disease characterised by a relatively sudden onset of symptoms that are usually severe. An episode of acute disease results in recovery to a state comparable to the patient’s condition of health and activity before the disease [2].

Progressive health/medical condition

3.1

Describing the course of a disease or condition in which the characteristic signs and symptoms become more prominent and severe, such as progressive muscular atrophy [2].

Degeneration health/medical condition

4.1

Degeneration: The gradual deterioration or loss of function of normal cells and body functions [2].

4.2

Degenerative Disease: Any disease in which deterioration of structure or function of tissue occurs. Kinds include arteriosclerosis, cancer, or osteoarthritis [2].

Palliative Care

5.1

As defined by Palliative Care Australia: Palliative care is person and family-centred care provided for a person with an active, progressive, advanced disease, who has little or no prospect of cure and who is expected to die, and for whom the primary goal is to optimise the quality of life.

— Page 1 of 2 —

References

1. Australian Government Department of Health. Acronyms and Glossary. Retrieved from https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/Glossary#c. Accessed July 22, 2020.
2. Mosby. Mosby’s medical dictionary. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2016.
3. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. About Chronic Diseases. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/index.htm#:~:text=Chronic%20diseases%20are%20defined%20broadly,disability%20in%20the%20United%20States. Accessed July 22, 2020.

Page 2 of 2