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. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):272.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-04256-x.

Prevalence and pattern of acute and chronic multimorbidity across all body systems and age groups in primary health care

Michael Linden  1 , Ulrike Linden  2 , David Goretzko  3 , Jochen Gensichen  4
Affiliations

Prevalence and pattern of acute and chronic multimorbidity across all body systems and age groups in primary health care

Michael Linden et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Multimorbidity is more than just the addition of individual illnesses, and its diagnosis and treatment poses special problems. General practitioners play an important role in looking after multimorbid patients. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and pattern of acute and chronic multimorbidity in primary care patients, regardless of body system and age group. A convenience sample of 2099 patients treated by 40 general practitioners was assessed using the Burvill scale. This measure of multimorbidity differentiates according to organ system and covers both acute and chronic illnesses. It also allows severity ratings to be assessed for both acute and chronic conditions, and thus patients' actual need for general practice care. Patients reported an average of 3.5 (SD = 2.0) acute and/or chronically affected body systems. Overall, 12.7% of patients reported only one health problem, 83.0% at least two, 65.8% at least three, 46.1% at least four, and 29.7% five or more. The most frequent problems were musculoskeletal (62.5%) and psychological (56.6%). Some morbidities were interrelated, while others co-occurred despite being medically independent. In primary care, multimorbidity is the rule rather than the exception. Acute and chronic morbidity both contribute to the burden of illness. Body systems reflect treatment needs. Instead of specialist treatment for individual illnesses, an integrative treatment approach is needed. This is the specialty of general practitioners.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of patients awaiting a GP consultation according to acute and chronic disease and impaired body system.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Severity ratings for acute and chronic problems by body system.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percentage of patients with acute and chronic diseases according to the number of affected body systems (1–10).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Co-occurrence and clusters (1–5) of acute and chronic health problems in the ten body regions under investigation (_a = acute, _c = chronic, Car = cardiac, End = endocrine, Pul = pulmonary, Uro = urogenital, Int = gastrointestinal, Blo = blood, Eye = eye/ear, Mus = musculoskeletal, Neu = neurological, Psy = mental/psychological).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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