The research indicated that interventions targeted either at specific combinations of common conditions or at specific problems for patients with multiple conditions may be the most effective method to managing patients with multimorbidity (co-existence of two or more long-term health conditions in an individual).

Multimorbidity is the norm, rather than the exception in primary care patients. Despite the increasing numbers of patients with two or more chronic conditions, the delivery of care to patients is usually built around single diseases and there is a limited level of care available to patients with multimorbidity.

Prof Susan Smith, Associate Professor of General Practice, RCSI, and lead author said,

'We know from previous research studies that patients with multimorbidity are more likely to die prematurely, be admitted to hospital and have longer hospital stays than patients with single conditions. Additionally, patients with multimorbidity have a poorer quality of life, experience a loss of physical functioning and are more likely to experience depression. Multimorbidity is a challenging factor facing practitioners and patients; however it has attracted surprisingly little research interest. 

We found that the methods used had mixed effects, but they were more likely to be effective if they were targeted at specific risk factors for people with common combinations of conditions such as diabetes and depression or focused on areas where patients have difficulties, such as with activities of daily living or the management of multiple medications.

The least effective approach was patient orientated interventions which dealt with patient related behaviour only but did not link this with healthcare.'

The full press release is available from the RSCI website at the first link below.

A copy of the research can be viewed on the BMJ website at the second link. And a podcast summarising the review findings can be found on the Cochrane website at the third link.