krooninen

Krooninen is a Finnish adjective meaning long-lasting or persistent. In medical contexts, the term describes diseases or conditions that endure for an extended period, typically months or years, and that may progress slowly or show fluctuating symptoms. It is contrasted with acute, which in Finnish is akuutti, denoting sudden onset and short duration. There is no universal fixed time threshold, but three months or longer is a common practical benchmark.

The word krooninen is borrowed from Swedish kronisk, which derives from the Greek chronikos (via Latin chronicus). The root chron- reflects time, as in English chronicle or chronology.

In usage, krooninen appears across health sciences and everyday language. In medicine, krooninen describes chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as chronic pain and chronic fatigue syndromes. It is also used outside medicine to describe long-standing social or psychological conditions, such as chronic stress.

In clinical practice, the designation implies ongoing management rather than a short course of treatment. While there is no universal duration threshold, a condition lasting three months or longer is often termed chronic. The focus of chronic care is long-term monitoring, prevention of complications, and improving quality of life.