Living with multimorbidity? The lived experience of multiple chronic conditions in later life

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology of Health and Illness
• Qualitative Health Research

Background:

• Multimorbidity, defined as two or more long-term conditions, is a growing global health challenge.
• Existing research on multimorbidity often overlooks the lived experiences of patients, particularly older adults.
• The concept of illness prioritization is prevalent in understanding self-management of multiple chronic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experience of illness in older people with multiple long-term conditions.
• To investigate the relevance of the biomedical concept of multimorbidity to individual experiences.
• To highlight discrepancies between clinical perspectives and lay understandings of managing multiple chronic conditions.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative, longitudinal UK study.
• Purposive sampling from an existing cohort, involving 15 older adults with multiple conditions.
• 27 in-depth interviews analyzed using Constructivist Grounded Theory.

Main Results:

• The biomedical conceptualization of multimorbidity has limited applicability to the lived experiences of older adults.
• The term 'concurrency' may not accurately reflect the subjective experience of having multiple conditions.
• Significant differences exist between clinical assumptions and the self-management realities faced by individuals.

Conclusions:

• The lived experience of multiple chronic conditions in older age differs substantially from clinical definitions of multimorbidity.
• A phenomenological approach is crucial for understanding the subjective realities of patients with multiple long-term conditions.
• Making lay perspectives visible is essential for improving the care and support for individuals managing complex health needs.