The report from the Academy of Medical Sciences, published recently, points to an alarming lack of information about multimorbidity, a scenario where a patient suffers several diseases simultaneously
Increasing numbers of people worldwide are suffering life-long disability and dying prematurely due to the ineffective treatment of people with multiple health conditions, a new report suggests.
The report from the Academy of Medical Sciences, published recently, points to an alarming lack of information about multimorbidity, a scenario where a patient suffers several diseases simultaneously.
While it is well known that multimorbidity is common and on the rise, the exact extent of the problem and the rate at which it is growing is not understood. It is reported to affect anywhere between 13-95 per cent of patients globally, a range so wide that it indicates just how little is known about this global burden. The causes of multimorbidity are poorly understood and strategies for its prevention are lacking.
The report, produced by a working group of 17 international health experts, is the first to address the problem of multimorbidity on a global scale and highlights the inadequacy of the evidence required to guide health policy and medical practice. The project was supported in part by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Most health services, including the NHS, are not designed to care for patients with multiple illnesses. This is likely to contribute to the increasing pressures on health systems and budgets worldwide, the report suggests. It concludes that without a better understanding of multimorbidity, it will not be possible for any country to plan future healthcare resources and redesign services effectively.
Stephen MacMahon, Professor, FMedSci, Chair of the Academy of Medical Sciences multimorbidity working group, said, “While we know multimorbidity is very common, we don’t know precisely how many people live with multiple serious illnesses. From what we do know, I estimate tens of millions of Britons suffer from multimorbidity, and globally the number could be a billion. Similarly, while we know multimorbidity is increasing, we don’t know how quickly or which groups are experiencing the biggest increases.”
He added, “This report should be the tipping point of recognising that multimorbidity is an enormous threat to global health. It is a priority to get the evidence we need to develop effective strategies for prevention and treatment.”
The report highlights evidence that mental health conditions can lead to reduced physical health and vice versa. For example, type II diabetes has been reported to increase the risk of depression, and adults with depression are 37 per cent more likely to develop type II diabetes. However, the division between health services treating mental and physical health often means that patients suffering from both physical and mental conditions are at particular risk of poor care.
The report suggests tackling multimorbidity will be essential to reach the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations, and to progress towards the WHO framework on ‘integrated people-centred’ health services.
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