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Measuring comorbidity in cardiovascular research: a systematic review
Harleah G Buck1, Jabar A Akbar, Sarah Jingying Zhang
1School of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, 201 Health and Human Development East, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Nursing Research and Practice
|August 20, 2013
Summary
Comorbidity measurement in cardiovascular disease studies is limited, often using unsubstantiated disease lists. This hinders accurate assessment of comorbidity
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Clinical Research Methodology
Background:
- Accurate comorbidity measurement is crucial for understanding cardiovascular disease (CVD) impact.
- Current methods may not fully capture the complexity of co-occurring conditions in CVD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate comorbidity assessment in clinical trials for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), and stroke.
- To identify current practices and limitations in measuring comorbidity in cardiovascular research.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials and prospective observational studies.
- Searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and Web of Science databases.
- Data extraction by at least two independent reviewers.
Main Results:
- 26 studies (8 AMI, 11 HF, 7 stroke) were included from 1432 abstracts.
- Only 5 studies utilized a validated instrument; others used unvalidated disease lists.
- Comorbidity data sources were inconsistent, with 35% not reporting sources; no improvement over time.
Conclusions:
- Comorbidity measurement in CVD research lacks standardized instruments and clear rationale.
- Current practices likely underestimate the true impact of comorbidity in AMI, HF, and stroke.
- Standardized and validated methods are needed for accurate comorbidity assessment in cardiovascular research.
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