When to Use Chronic vs Acute
As a researcher in the health sciences, you have likely encountered the words chronic and acute in the literature. But did you know that many authors use these terms incorrectly in their writing?
Some authors use chronic and acute to describe severity, patients, treatments, medications, or parts of the body. But these uses are incorrect. These terms should only be used to refer to the duration of a symptom, condition, or disease.
Acute: having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course; lasting a short time
Chronic: continuing or occurring again and again for a long time
To use chronic and acute correctly, only use these terms when referring to time related to symptoms, conditions, or diseases.
Incorrect
chronic dialysis
chronic diagnosis
chronic opioid user
acute treatment
acute administration of epinephrine
Correct
long-term dialysis
long-standing diagnosis of a chronic disease
long-term opioid user
short-term treatment
immediate administration of epinephrine
chronic kidney disease
acute liver failure
acute, severe cystitis
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