A report from the Pew Interent & American Life Project entitled "Chronic Disease and the Interent" was released on March 24, 2010.  The reports indicates that 81% of adults reporting no chronic disease go online (66% go on line for health related information), while only 62% with one or more chronic diseases go online (and 51% go online for health information).  They go on to say "The internet access gap creates an online health information gap." Furthermore, "Interestingly, there are two activities which stand out among people living with chronic disease: blogging and online health discussions." "The internet is like a secret weapon – if someone has access to it. The deck is stacked against people living with chronic disease. They are disproportionately offline. They often have complicated health issues, not easily solved by the addition of even the best, most reliable, medical advice. And yet, those who are online have a trump card. They have each other. This survey finds
that having a chronic disease increases the probability that an internet user will share what they know and learn from their peers. They unearth nuggets of information. They blog. They participate in online discussions. And they just keep going."  The entire report can be found here www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Chronic-Disease.aspx