The impact of multimorbidity on people s lives: a cross-sectional survey
Jeannine Stairmand, Jason Gurney, James Stanley, Elinor Millar, Cheryl Davies, Kelly Semper, Anthony Dowell, Dee Mangin, Ross Lawrenson, Diana Sarfati
Multimorbidity is the coexistence of more than one chronic disease. Multimorbidity is increasingly common particularly among those over 65 years, Mori and Pacific people and those living in socioeconomic deprivation. Multimorbidity results in high health service use, competing demands on patients and healthcare professionals, and reduces quality and quantity of life. Multimorbidity research is growing internationally and scarce in New Zealand. This research surveyed a sample of New Zealand primary care patients and describes the prevalence and impact of multimorbidity on their lives.