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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Jan 15;1(1):CD006560.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006560.pub4.

Interventions for improving outcomes in patients with multimorbidity in primary care and community settings

Susan M Smith  1 , Emma Wallace  1 , Tom O'Dowd  2 , Martin Fortin  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Interventions for improving outcomes in patients with multimorbidity in primary care and community settings

Susan M Smith et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. .

Abstract

Background: Many people with chronic disease have more than one chronic condition, which is referred to as multimorbidity. The term comorbidity is also used but this is now taken to mean that there is a defined index condition with other linked conditions, for example diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is also used when there are combinations of defined conditions that commonly co-exist, for example diabetes and depression. While this is not a new phenomenon, there is greater recognition of its impact and the importance of improving outcomes for individuals affected. Research in the area to date has focused mainly on descriptive epidemiology and impact assessment. There has been limited exploration of the effectiveness of interventions to improve outcomes for people with multimorbidity.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of health-service or patient-oriented interventions designed to improve outcomes in people with multimorbidity in primary care and community settings. Multimorbidity was defined as two or more chronic conditions in the same individual.

Search methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and seven other databases to 28 September 2015. We also searched grey literature and consulted experts in the field for completed or ongoing studies.

Selection criteria: Two review authors independently screened and selected studies for inclusion. We considered randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomised clinical trials (NRCTs), controlled before-after studies (CBAs), and interrupted time series analyses (ITS) evaluating interventions to improve outcomes for people with multimorbidity in primary care and community settings. Multimorbidity was defined as two or more chronic conditions in the same individual. This includes studies where participants can have combinations of any condition or have combinations of pre-specified common conditions (comorbidity), for example, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The comparison was usual care as delivered in that setting.

Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently extracted data from the included studies, evaluated study quality, and judged the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. We conducted a meta-analysis of the results where possible and carried out a narrative synthesis for the remainder of the results. We present the results in a 'Summary of findings' table and tabular format to show effect sizes across all outcome types.

Main results: We identified 17 RCTs examining a range of complex interventions for people with multimorbidity. Nine studies focused on defined comorbid conditions with an emphasis on depression, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The remaining studies focused on multimorbidity, generally in older people. In 11 studies, the predominant intervention element was a change to the organisation of care delivery, usually through case management or enhanced multidisciplinary team work. In six studies, the interventions were predominantly patient-oriented, for example, educational or self-management support-type interventions delivered directly to participants. Overall our confidence in the results regarding the effectiveness of interventions ranged from low to high certainty. There was little or no difference in clinical outcomes (based on moderate certainty evidence). Mental health outcomes improved (based on high certainty evidence) and there were modest reductions in mean depression scores for the comorbidity studies that targeted participants with depression (standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.63 to -0.2). There was probably a small improvement in patient-reported outcomes (moderate certainty evidence). The intervention may make little or no difference to health service use (low certainty evidence), may slightly improve medication adherence (low certainty evidence), probably slightly improves patient-related health behaviours (moderate certainty evidence), and probably improves provider behaviour in terms of prescribing behaviour and quality of care (moderate certainty evidence). Cost data were limited.

Authors' conclusions: This review identifies the emerging evidence to support policy for the management of people with multimorbidity and common comorbidities in primary care and community settings. There are remaining uncertainties about the effectiveness of interventions for people with multimorbidity in general due to the relatively small number of RCTs conducted in this area to date, with mixed findings overall. It is possible that the findings may change with the inclusion of large ongoing well-organised trials in future updates. The results suggest an improvement in health outcomes if interventions can be targeted at risk factors such as depression in people with co-morbidity.

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Conflict of interest statement

SS has no conflict of interest. EW has no conflict of interest. TOD has no conflict of interest. MF has no conflict of interest.

Figures

1
1
Flow Diagram
2
2
Risk of bias graph: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item presented as percentages across all included studies.
3
3
Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.
4
4
Forest plot of comparison: 1 Glycaemic control (HbA1c) Diabetes outcome: 1.1 HbA1c at immediate to 6 months post‐intervention follow up.
5
5
Forest plot of comparison: 2 Systolic Blood Pressure: outcome: 2.1 Systolic blood pressure at immediate to 6 months post‐intervention follow up.
6
6
Forest plot of comparison: 3 Depression scores: 3.1 PHQ9 Depression scores at immediate to 6 months post‐intervention follow up.
7
7
Forest plot of comparison: 4 Depression scores: 4.1 Depression scores at immediate to 6 months post‐intervention follow up.
8
8
Forest plot of comparison: 5 Health related quality of life, outcome: 5.1 HRQoL at immediate to 6 months post‐intervention follow up.
9
9
Forest plot of comparison: 6 Self‐Efficacy, outcome: 6.1 Self‐efficacy score at immediate to 6 months post‐intervention follow up.
1.1
1.1. Analysis
Comparison 1: Glycaemic control (HbA1c) studies targeting diabetes, Outcome 1: HBA1c
2.1
2.1. Analysis
Comparison 2: Systolic Blood Pressure: studies targeting hypertension, Outcome 1: Systolic blood pressure
3.1
3.1. Analysis
Comparison 3: PHQ9 depression scores: studies targeting depression, Outcome 1: PHQ9 Depression scores
4.1
4.1. Analysis
Comparison 4: Depression scores: studies targeting depression, Outcome 1: Depression scores
5.1
5.1. Analysis
Comparison 5: Health related quality of life, Outcome 1: HRQoL
6.1
6.1. Analysis
Comparison 6: Self‐Efficacy, Outcome 1: Self‐efficacy score
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Update of

References

References to studies included in this review

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References to other published versions of this review

Smith 2007b
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