Prevalence and patterns of multi-morbidity in Australia

A research paper in the latest issue of the Medical Journal of Australia has provided the first insight into the prevalence and patterns of multi-morbidity – two or more types of chronic conditions – in Australia. 

About three in 10 people who saw a GP in 2005, and one in four Australians have multi-morbidity.

Professor Helena Britt, director of the Family Medicine Research Centre at the University of Sydney, and her co-authors studied the multi-morbidities of more than 9,000 patients, who attended GPs between July and November 2005. 

Professor Britt said knowing the common combinations of multi-morbidity may help in planning the health services needed for our ageing population. 

Prevalence of multi-morbidity was estimated at 37.1% of surveyed patients, which translates to 29% of people who attended a GP in 2005 and 25.5% of the Australian population. 

Among the elderly, 83% of the surveyed patients had multi-morbidity.

The most common morbidity combinations were: arthritis/chronic back pain and vascular disease (15%); a psychological problem and vascular disease (10.6%); and arthritis/chronic back pain plus a psychological problem (10.6%). 

The most common combination among patients with four or more types of morbidity was arthritis/back pain, vascular disease, gastro-oesophageal reflux and a psychological problem.

Professor Britt said some multi-morbidity combinations were particularly problematic for both clinician and patient, particularly where the drug therapy for one problem may have negative effects on the other.

“These issues are often not considered in management guidelines for individual conditions,” she said.