A chronic disease is any condition lasting 12 months or longer that requires ongoing medical care, limits daily activity, or both. For conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and CVID, IV therapy delivers medication directly into the bloodstream, where it works faster, with greater precision, and under clinical oversight. July is Chronic Disease Awareness Month, and there’s no better time to understand what treatment looks like at its best.
On paper, the definition is clean. Living with it rarely is.
A chronic disease is a health condition that lasts one year or more and requires either ongoing medical management or limits daily functioning. Unlike acute illnesses that are resolved after treatment, chronic diseases are managed, not cured. Some progress gradually over time. Others fluctuate between periods of relative stability and flare.
The conditions that fall under this definition span a wide range. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke are the most familiar. But the category also includes autoimmune and immune-mediated conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, myasthenia gravis, and multiple sclerosis. Inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Neurological disorders like chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). And primary immunodeficiencies like common variable immune deficiency (CVID), which affects the body’s ability to produce sufficient antibodies and is a primary immunodeficiency, not an autoimmune condition.
According to a 2025 analysis published in the CDC’s Preventing Chronic Disease journal, 76.4% of U.S. adults reported at least one chronic condition in 2023. That represents approximately 194 million people. More than half of American adults, around 130 million, reported two or more.
What’s especially notable is that chronic diseases aren’t concentrated in older populations. Nearly 6 in 10 adults between the ages of 18 and 34 reported at least one chronic condition — a significant increase from a decade earlier. Among midlife adults, that number climbs to nearly 8 in 10. Among adults 65 and older, it reaches 9 in 10.
The costs reflect the scale. Chronic disease accounts for an estimated $4.5 trillion in annual U.S. healthcare spending. That figure encompasses treatment, hospitalization, lost productivity, and the compounding burden of managing multiple conditions at once.
Chronic disease is not a niche experience. For most Americans, it is part of life.
Not every chronic condition calls for infusion therapy. But for a meaningful number of patients, it’s not just one option. It’s the option that finally makes a difference.
Infusion therapy delivers medication intravenously, directly into the bloodstream. This approach becomes appropriate when a drug would break down before being absorbed if taken orally, when faster or more precise action is clinically necessary, or when ongoing monitoring during administration improves patient safety.
Conditions commonly managed with infusion therapy include rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis, CIDP, CVID and other primary immunodeficiencies, and certain neurological and autoimmune conditions. The medications involved span biologics, monoclonal antibodies, and immunoglobulin therapies such as IVIG.
IVIG, or intravenous immunoglobulin, is a plasma-derived therapy composed primarily of immunoglobulin G (IgG) drawn from pooled human plasma. For patients with primary immunodeficiencies like CVID, it serves as replacement therapy, providing the antibodies the body cannot produce on its own. For autoimmune conditions such as myasthenia gravis and CIDP, it functions as an immunomodulator, working to reduce harmful immune activity and stabilize symptoms over time.
This isn’t experimental territory. Clinicians have been using IVIG to treat immunodeficiency and autoimmune conditions for decades, and the evidence base continues to grow. What has changed is where and how infusion therapy for chronic disease is delivered.
Here’s something worth saying plainly: the medication you receive matters. Where you receive it matters almost as much.
For years, most infusion therapy was administered in hospital outpatient departments. That landscape has shifted meaningfully. A 2025 study published in the Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy found that patients receiving infusion therapy in alternative settings, including ambulatory infusion centers and at home, experienced outcomes comparable to hospital-based infusion, and frequently at considerably lower cost.
The reasons patients prefer non-hospital settings are practical. Shorter wait times. Appointments built around real schedules. A calmer environment that doesn’t feel like navigating a hospital system every few weeks. More than 58% of patients now choose ambulatory infusion care over hospital outpatient settings when given the choice.
That preference isn’t incidental. For patients receiving ongoing infusion therapy for chronic disease, the care experience compounds over time. When treatment fits your life rather than disrupting it, adherence goes up. When adherence goes up, outcomes improve.
Worth saying directly: when symptoms improve, it can feel natural to assume a break from treatment is warranted. For most chronic conditions managed with infusion therapy, that assumption is worth questioning. Symptom stability is often the result of consistent therapy, not a sign it’s no longer necessary. Many conditions continue progressing under the surface even during periods of relative calm. Staying on prescribed therapy as scheduled is frequently what creates that stability in the first place.
The right infusion therapy fits your condition and your life. Explore your options at LUX Infusion.
If infusion therapy is part of your long-term care plan, you’ll be working closely with your infusion team for months, sometimes years. The choice of provider deserves real thought.
A few things are worth asking about before you commit. Is the team clinician-led, with nurses and specialists who have genuine expertise in your specific condition? How quickly can they initiate care after a referral? What does ongoing communication look like between your infusion team and your referring provider? And what options exist for where you receive treatment?
These aren’t just logistical questions. Treatment adherence is closely tied to how supported patients feel throughout their care relationship. Access, consistent clinical communication, and a care environment built around the patient rather than institutional workflow all have a direct impact on outcomes.
Explore your care options by condition, or find a LUX Infusion location near you.
If you or someone you care for is managing a chronic condition that requires infusion therapy, we’d be glad to help. Our team prioritizes fast therapy starts, and a welcome call goes out within four hours of receiving a referral.
You deserve care that sees the whole picture. Not just the diagnosis, but the person behind it.
What makes a health condition “chronic” rather than acute?
A condition is considered chronic when it lasts 12 months or longer and requires either ongoing medical management or limits a person’s ability to function day to day. Acute conditions tend to resolve with treatment over a defined period. A respiratory infection is acute. Rheumatoid arthritis, CVID, or multiple sclerosis are chronic.
Which types of long-term conditions are commonly treated with IV therapy?
Conditions frequently managed with infusion therapy include rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, myasthenia gravis, CIDP, primary immunodeficiencies like CVID, and certain autoimmune neurological disorders. IV delivery is appropriate when the prescribed medication can’t be adequately absorbed orally, or when the condition benefits from more direct clinical monitoring during treatment.
Can infusion therapy be received outside of a hospital?
Yes. Infusion therapy is available at ambulatory infusion centers, through home infusion services, and in some physician office settings. A 2025 study found that patient outcomes in these alternative settings are comparable to hospital-based infusion, often at lower cost and with meaningfully higher patient satisfaction. Many patients prefer the flexibility and comfort of non-hospital settings for ongoing treatment.
How long do patients typically stay on infusion therapy for a chronic condition?
Treatment duration varies widely depending on the condition, the therapy prescribed, and how a patient responds over time. Some medications are administered for a defined course. Others are intended as ongoing therapy that may continue indefinitely as long as the patient is responding well and tolerating treatment. Your prescribing provider and infusion care team will work together to monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.
How does a patient get referred for infusion therapy at LUX Infusion?
Referring physicians and specialists can submit a referral directly at LUX Infusion. LUX Infusion prioritizes rapid access to care and aims to reach out with an initial welcome call within four hours of receiving a referral.
Will the infusion team stay in contact with my other providers?
Yes. Continuous communication with referring providers is a core part of how LUX Infusion operates. We share clinical updates and relevant data throughout treatment so your broader care team stays fully informed at every step of your journey.
LUX Infusion is elevating infusions into an experience. As a U.S.-based, clinician-led infusion services company, we provide both home infusion and ambulatory infusion center services, bringing clarity, compassion, and expertise to every patient relationship. With faster therapy starts, dedicated patient support, and continuous data sharing with providers, LUX Infusion ensures patients feel supported, and providers and partners can trust in better adherence and outcomes. For more information, visit luxinfusion.com.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider, or as legal advice. Please consult a physician or other healthcare professional for your specific health care and/or medical needs or concerns and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here or on our website.
References
1. Watson KB, Wiltz JL, Nhim K, Kaufmann RB, Thomas CW, Greenlund KJ. Trends in Multiple Chronic Conditions Among US Adults, By Life Stage, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2013–2023. Prev Chronic Dis. 2025;22:240539. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd22.240539
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Chronic Diseases. Updated May 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/about/index.html
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fast Facts: Health and Economic Costs of Chronic Conditions. https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
4. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2025;32(3):323–328. Published online December 20, 2025. https://www.jmcp.org/doi/10.18553/jmcp.2025.25264
5. American College of Rheumatology. Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG). Updated March 2025. https://rheumatology.org/patients/intravenous-immunoglobulin-ivig
6. HCD International. Chronic Disease Awareness Month. https://www.hcdi.com/hcdi-recognizes-chronic-disease-awareness-month/
7. National Day Calendar. Chronic Disease Day, July 10. https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celebrations/chronic-disease-day-july-10
