National Institutes of Health Advancing Multimorbidity Research

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Chronic Disease Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Multimorbidity, defined as the co-occurrence of two or more chronic diseases, is prevalent, particularly in individuals aged 65 and older.
• Understanding and measuring multimorbidity is crucial for advancing research into its causes, interactions, and effective management.
• Routine assessment of multimorbidity can lead to improved patient outcomes and more effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a comprehensive research framework for studying multimorbidity.
• To identify existing gaps within the current body of multimorbidity research.
• To guide future research directions and enhance the understanding of complex disease interactions.

Main Methods:

• A literature review was conducted to inform the development of a guiding framework.
• An expert panel workshop was convened in September 2018 to discuss multimorbidity research.
• The framework was developed based on a patient-centered approach, incorporating concepts like concordant and discordant comorbidity.

Main Results:

• The developed framework integrates patient-centered principles, considering concordant and discordant comorbidities.
• The framework facilitates the identification of potential causes, disease interactions, and patient outcomes.
• Workshop discussions focused on selecting optimal multimorbidity assessment instruments and defining future research priorities.

Conclusions:

• Advancing multimorbidity research necessitates addressing limitations in study designs and target populations.
• Increased emphasis on standardized, universal outcome measures is essential for comparative research.
• Implementing the proposed framework can significantly contribute to a more robust understanding and management of multimorbidity.