Multimorbidity Flashcards
What is multimorbidity
Someone with two or more long term illnesses
What is a long term condition?
An illness that is managed than cured. These could be managed by medicines or other treatments.
Give some examples of multimorbidity
- Diabetes
- Schizophrenia
- Learning Disability
- Frailty or Chronic pain
- Sight or hearing loss
- Alcohol or substance misuse
When are where is multimorbidity common?
Multimorbidity is common as people age and found more in less affluent areas.
Why is there multimorbidity in older people?
Due to higher rates of physical health conditions
Why is there multimorbidity in younger people and people from less affluent areas?
Due to a combination of physical and mental health problems
what is the prevalance of multimorbidity?
around 23-27%. This increases significantly with age and socioeconomic deprivation and it is universal in older adults.
What is multimorbidity associated with?
- Reduced quality of life
- Reduced life expectancy
- High treatment Burden
- Mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression,
- Fragmentation and problems of co ordination of care
- functional difficulties
- Polypharmacy and higher rates of adverse drug events
- Increased use of health services ( including unplanned or emergency care)
What is polypharmacy?
The use of multiple medications
When should a multimorbidity approach be used?
- When people find it difficult to manage their treatments or day to day activities
- Recieve care and support from multiple services and need additional services.
- Have both long term physical and mental health conditions
- Have frailty or at risk of falls.
- Frequently seek unplanned or emergency care.
- Are prescribed more than 10 regular medicines, or are prescribed fewer than 10 regular medicines, but are at particular risk of adverse events.
What are treatment goals and plans based on?
Treatment goals and plans are based on how many conditions need to be treated at one time and how the conditions need to be prioritized for successful patient outcomes.
What should management of people with multimorbidity focus on?
- how the person’s health conditions and their treatments interact and how this affects quality of life
- The persons individual needs, preferences for treatments, health priorities, lifestyle and goals
- The benefits and risks of following recommendations from guidance on single health conditions.
- Improving quality of life by reducing treatment burden,adverse events and unplanned care.
- Improving co ordination of care across services.
What happens after you have had a discussion with the person about all of the above? ( discussion of disease, treatment burden etc)
Individualised management plan e.g. un neccesary medication needs to be stopped atc.
why is social care for older people with multiple long-term conditions important?
Having the opportunity to discuss physical and mental health needs when having a care and support needs assessment will ensure that all their health and social needs are identified and will enable them to access the support they need to improve their quality of life and maintain their independence.
