Estimating the Prevalence of Multimorbidity Among the Adult Population in Primary Care Settings in European Countries – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract:
Background: Multimorbidity, defined as having two or more chronic illnesses or long-term conditions, is a major concern in primary care and public health, particularly for the older population. There is a dearth of evidence regarding multimorbidity in primary care facilities, which are the initial point of contact for patients in most European nations. The objective of the current study is to estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity among the adult population in European primary care settings.
Methods: Six electronic databases (Embase, Medline, Global Health, PsycINFO, CINHAL, and Web of Science) were searched for possible papers for this study, which is based on PRISMA guidelines. RStudio and CMA were used for statistical analysis, and the NOS tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality.
Results: Twelve studies were included, with a cumulative of 2.9 million participants. The overall prevalence of multimorbidity in the adult population in European primary care settings was 39% (95% CI; 26%-54%). Subgroup analysis based on age showed a prevalence of 13% (95% CI; 7%-22%) and 83% (95% CI; 72%-89%) for the youngest and oldest age groups respectively. Similarly, based on gender, 41% (95% CI; 26%-58%) and 44% (95% CI; 29%-61%) for males and females, respectively, and prevalence based on the coding system was 43% (95% CI; 26%-62%) for ICD, 47% (95% CI; 24%-72%) for ICPC, and 21% (95% CI; 15%-28%) for read codes.
Conclusion: About 1 in 3 adults have multimorbidity with higher prevalence rates as age advances, highlighting the importance of developing appropriate clinical recommendations and healthcare policies to manage and support this rising patient population with multimorbidity
