Adverse health defects that develop slowly and persist or re-occur frequently are referred to as what?

Adverse health defects that develop slowly and are characterized by their persistence or frequent re-occurrence are best described as chronic conditions. Chronic health issues are typically long-lasting and can result from various factors, including lifestyle, genetics, and environmental influences. They often require ongoing management and may fluctuate in severity over time.

In contrast, acute conditions are typically sudden in onset and are of short duration, often resolving with treatment. Transitory conditions are temporary and do not last long, while latent conditions refer to diseases that are present but not active, meaning they may not show symptoms until later. Thus, when referring to health defects that are slow to develop and have a tendency to persist or recur, chronic is the most accurate term.