Multimorbidity in a university-based family practice

Y.H. Jin, J.K. Lee, B.K. Kim, E.S. Kim Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

Objective: Multimorbidity is common in aging society and it is recently issued in medical research. However, it is rarely studied in Korea. This study aimed to estimate prevalence of multimorbidity and identify common co-morbidity in primary care settings.

Methods: Study populations were all patients who visited outpatients department of family medicine during study periods (n=2284). Study was carried out in each one week of April, July, October in 2012 and January 2013. Multimorbidity was measured by counting number of health problems and severity was estimated with Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS). Multimorbidity was defi ned as two or more medical conditions at the same time.

Results: Participants consisted with 893(39.5%) male and 1370(60.5%) female, mean age was 53.6 in both male and female. Prevalence of multimorbidity in 15- to 40-year of age, 41- to 64- year of age, more than 65-year of age were 36.4%, 69.9%, 70.2% in male and 35.2%, 62.2%, 76.1% in female, respectively. Mean number of health problems in 15- to 40-year, 41- to 64-year, 65-year and older were 1.43, 2.29, 2.75 in male and 1.34, 2.08, 2.66 in female. The 3 most common co- morbidity category were endocrine-metabolic, cardiac, musculoskeletal system.

Conclusions: Prevalence of multimorbidity is high and increased with age. The prevalence of patients with multimorbidity in aging society will be increased. In primary care settings physicians should be aware of these facts and be cautious in their practice.