Chronic diseases multi-morbidity among adult patients at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital

Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCCDs) multi-morbidity is becoming one of the public health problems in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of NCCDs and multi-morbidity among adult patients at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HUCSH).

Between January and February 2016, a cross-sectional study was carried out among patients aged ⩾ 18 years attending the outpatient department of the hospital. Trained nurses interviewed patients and reviewed medical records. Multi-morbidity was defined as the coexistence of two or more NCCDs in an individual.

Two hundred twenty seven (55.2%) of the respondents had at least one of the NCCDs and 73 (17.8%) of them had multi-morbidity. The commonest diseases that affected the patients were diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The risk of having NCCDs was highest among patients aged above 44 years (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.7, 95% CI 1.5-4.8). Non educated patients (AOR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.0-2.7) and patients with high household income (AOR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.5) and patients with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 25 (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.7) had higher odds of having NCCDs. Highest odds of multi-morbidity was observed among patients aged above 44 years (AOR = 4.4, 95% CI 2.2-8.8).

The prevalence of NCCDs and multi-morbidity among the study population was high. Identifying and addressing modifiable risk factors; screening, treatment and follow-up of patients with NCCDs could help in reducing the burden of NCCDs multi-morbidity and its effect.