Prevalence, Determinants and Patterns of Multimorbidity in Primary Care : A Systematic Review of Observational Studies
Violán, Concepció (Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol)
Foguet-Boreu, Quintí (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Flores-Mateo, Gemma (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Salisbury, Chris (Centre of Academic Primary Care, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol)
Blom, Jeanet (Leiden University Medical Center)
Freitag, Michael (Jena University Hospital (Alemanya))
Glynn, Liam (Discipline of General Practice, National University of Ireland)
Muth, Christiane (Institute of General Practice, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main)
Valderas, Jose M. (Health Services & Policy Research Group, School of Medicine, University of Exeter)

Date:	2014
Abstract:	Multimorbidity is a major concern in primary care. Nevertheless, evidence of prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity, and their determinants, are scarce. The aim of this study is to systematically review studies of the prevalence, patterns and determinants of multimorbidity in primary care. Systematic review of literature published between 1961 and 2013 and indexed in Ovid (CINAHL, PsychINFO, Medline and Embase) and Web of Knowledge. Studies were selected according to eligibility criteria of addressing prevalence, determinants, and patterns of multimorbidity and using a pretested proforma in primary care. The quality and risk of bias were assessed using STROBE criteria. Two researchers assessed the eligibility of studies for inclusion (Kappa = 0. 86). We identified 39 eligible publications describing studies that included a total of 70,057,611 patients in 12 countries. The number of health conditions analysed per study ranged from 5 to 335, with multimorbidity prevalence ranging from 12. 9% to 95. 1%. All studies observed a significant positive association between multimorbidity and age (odds ratio [OR], 1. 26 to 227. 46), and lower socioeconomic status (OR, 1. 20 to 1. 91). Positive associations with female gender and mental disorders were also observed. The most frequent patterns of multimorbidity included osteoarthritis together with cardiovascular and/or metabolic conditions. Well-established determinants of multimorbidity include age, lower socioeconomic status and gender. The most prevalent conditions shape the patterns of multimorbidity. However, the limitations of the current evidence base means that further and better designed studies are needed to inform policy, research and clinical practice, with the goal of improving health-related quality of life for patients with multimorbidity. Standardization of the definition and assessment of multimorbidity is essential in order to better understand this phenomenon, and is a necessary immediate step.
Grants:	Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad RD12/0005 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad PI12/00427
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	PloS one, Vol. 9 (july 2014) , ISSN 1932-6203

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102149
PMID: 25048354

9 p, 2.4 MB

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