The best replacement for issues is problems.

The best alternatives to issues are rated as following:
★★★★★  problems
★★★  risks
★★  concerns
★★  ethical issues
★  moral issues
★  issues
★  woe is me
★  risk
★  topics
★  obama issues
★  problem
★  mccain issues
★  democratic issues
  republican issues
  troubles
  content issues
  liberal issues
  economic issues
  data privacy issues
  equity issues
  democrat issues
  kerry issues
  federal issues
  private troubles
  ethical business issues
  mccain
  trade paperbacks
  personal problems
  energy issues
  community health issues
  stem cell research
  anxiety
  trades

Your alternative for issues is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about issues, one probably shouldn't forget about autism.

Other search terms related to issues and their ratings are:
★★★★★ autism
★★ children
★★ technology
You have in mind a companion for issues and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of issues in all years. Click on graph for more.
issues
problems
risks