Prevalence and impact of physical-mental multimorbidity in the outpatient department

Abstract

Background. Multimorbidity has been defined as the presence of 2 or more chronic conditions in the same individual. Multimorbidity can involve physical and mental chronic conditions in different combinations. Managing multimorbidity can be difficult as it requires coordination between different healthcare providers and approaches tailored to each one’s health circumstances. Objective of the study. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and burden of physical and mental multimorbidity on patients in Primary Health Care (PHC) settings. Material and methods. This paper is based on data that was extracted from multiple medical databases such as PubMed, PMC, and Google Scholar, and a variety of literature published from the years 2010 to 2024. We included studies of any research design, published in English, referring to physical-mental multimorbidity among adults in PHC. In total, 84 credible sources were reviewed and used for data. Results. The prevalence of multimorbidity was found to increase with an increase in age and was found to be more prevalent in a socioeconomically deprived community. It was found to be related to premature death and resulted in poor function and quality of life and ultimately a greater health care utilization. Patients suffering from chronic conditions were often found to have mental conditions due to the stress resulting from their physical condition. The treatment of patients suffering from physical-mental multimorbidity requires different health care providers to prescribe treatment taking into consideration individual conditions, by adopting a holistic, patient-centered approach, ultimately enhancing overall health outcomes and quality of life. Conclusion. Multimorbidity is a common phenomenon with higher prevalence in PHC settings, the association of physical and mental condition lead to greater burden, lower quality of life, and higher treatment costs.