Dataset Information

Multimorbidity and patterns of chronic conditions in a primary care population in Switzerland: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To characterise in details a random sample of multimorbid patients in Switzerland and to evaluate the clustering of chronic conditions in that sample.

Methods

100 general practitioners (GPs) each enrolled 10 randomly selected multimorbid patients aged ?18 years old and suffering from at least three chronic conditions. The prevalence of 75 separate chronic conditions from the International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2) was evaluated in these patients. Clusters of chronic conditions were studied in parallel.

Results

The final database included 888 patients. Mean (SD) patient age was 73.0 (12.0) years old. They suffered from 5.5 (2.2) chronic conditions and were prescribed 7.7 (3.5) drugs; 25.7% suffered from depression. Psychological conditions were more prevalent among younger individuals (?66 years old). Cluster analysis of chronic conditions with a prevalence ?5% in the sample revealed four main groups of conditions: (1) cardiovascular risk factors and conditions, (2) general age-related and metabolic conditions, (3) tobacco and alcohol dependencies, and (4) pain, musculoskeletal and psychological conditions.

Conclusion

Given the emerging epidemic of multimorbidity in industrialised countries, accurately depicting the multiple expressions of multimorbidity in family practices' patients is a high priority. Indeed, even in a setting where patients have direct access to medical specialists, GPs nevertheless retain a key role as coordinators and often as the sole medical reference for multimorbid patients.

SUBMITTER: Deruaz-Luyet A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5734197 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Multimorbidity and patterns of chronic conditions in a primary care population in Switzerland: a cross-sectional study.

Déruaz-Luyet Anouk A N'Goran A Alexandra AA Senn Nicolas N Bodenmann Patrick P Pasquier Jérôme J Widmer Daniel D Tandjung Ryan R Rosemann Thomas T Frey Peter P Streit Sven S Zeller Andreas A Haller Dagmar M DM Excoffier Sophie S Burnand Bernard B Herzig Lilli L

BMJ open 20170702 6

<h4>Objective</h4>To characterise in details a random sample of multimorbid patients in Switzerland and to evaluate the clustering of chronic conditions in that sample.<h4>Methods</h4>100 general practitioners (GPs) each enrolled 10 randomly selected multimorbid patients aged ≥18 years old and suffering from at least three chronic conditions. The prevalence of 75 separate chronic conditions from the International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2) was evaluated in these patients. Clusters ...[more]

PMID: 28674127

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundPopulation ageing challenges health care systems due to the high prevalence and impact of multimorbidity in older adults. However, little is known about how chronic conditions present in certain multimorbidity patterns, which could have great impact on public health at several levels. The aim of our study was to identify and describe multimorbidity patterns in low-, middle-, and high-income countries.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Collaborative Research on Ageing in Europe project (Finland, Poland, and Spain) and the World Health Organization's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa). These cross-sectional studies obtained data from 41,909 noninstitutionalized adults older than 50 years. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to detect multimorbidity patterns. Additional adjusted binary logistic regressions were performed to identify associations between sociodemographic factors and multimorbidity.ResultsOverall multimorbidity prevalence was high across countries. Hypertension, cataract, and arthritis were the most prevalent comorbid conditions. Two or three multimorbidity patterns were found per country. Several patterns were identified across several countries: "cardio-respiratory" (angina, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), "metabolic" (diabetes, obesity, and hypertension), and "mental-articular" (arthritis and depression).ConclusionsA high prevalence of multimorbidity occurs in older adults across countries, with low- and middle-income countries gradually approaching the figures of richer countries. Certain multimorbidity patterns are present in several countries, which suggest that common underlying etiopathogenic factors may play a role. Deeper understanding of these patterns may lead to the development of preventive actions to diminish their prevalence and also give rise to new, comprehensive approaches for the management of these co-occurring conditions.

Project description:BackgroundTo understand how to improve care for patients with chronic diseases and multimorbidity we wanted to describe the prevalence of different chronic diseases and the pattern of multimorbidity and to analyse the associations between occurrence of diseases and primary care utilization, adherence to guideline-based pharmacotherapy, and continuity of care.MethodsRetrospective cross-sectional study of routine care data of the general population in region Jönköping in Sweden (345 916 inhabitants using primary care services) covering 4.3 years.ParticipantsPatients fulfilling the inclusion criteria of having ≥ 1 of 10 common chronic diseases and ≥ 3 visits to primary care between 2011 and 2015.Primary outcome measuresIn order to determine diseases and multimorbidity, primary care utilisation, adherence to guideline-based pharmacotherapy, frequencies and percentages, interval and ratio scaled variables were described using means, standard deviations, and various percentiles in the population. Two continuity indices were used (MMCI, COC) to describe continuity.ResultsOf the general population, 25 829 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria (7.5% of the population). Number of diseases increased with increasing age, and multimorbidity was much more common than single diseases (mean 2.0 per patient). There was a slight positive correlation (0.29) between number of diseases and visits, but visits did not increase proportionally to the number of diseases. Patients with physical diseases combined with anxiety and/or depression made more visits than others. The number of diseases per patient was negatively associated with the adherence to pharmacotherapy guidelines. There was no association between continuity and healthcare utilisation or adherence to pharmacotherapy guidelines.ConclusionsMultimorbid patients are common in primary care and for many chronic diseases it is more common to have other simultaneous diseases than having only one disease. This can make adherence to pharmacotherapy guidelines a questionable measure for aged multimorbid patients. Existing continuity indices also revealed limitations. Holistic and patient-centred measures should be used for quality assessment of care for multimorbid patients in primary care.

Dataset Information

Multimorbidity and patterns of chronic conditions in a primary care population in Switzerland: a cross-sectional study.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Multimorbidity and patterns of chronic conditions in a primary care population in Switzerland: a cross-sectional study.

Similar Datasets

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