11 things you should know about Chronic Diseases & Multimorbidity

14 May 11 things you should know about Chronic Diseases & Multimorbidity

The World Health Organization (WHO) refers to chronic disease as an “invisible” global epidemic that must be controlled.

Patients with chronic diseases account for:

1. 80% of GP consultations
2. 78% of all healthcare spend
3. 60% of all deaths worldwide, but it’s much higher in Ireland
4. 77% of Europe’s disease burden

Many people have more than one chronic condition, known as Multimorbidity.

Individuals with Multimorbidity are more likely to:

1. Die prematurely
2. Suffer from depression
3. Receive multiple medications
4. Have problems adhering to treatments
5. Be major drivers of general practice (GP) workload because of clinical complexity and polypharmacy
6.  Have longer hospital stays
7. Have frequent emergency hospital admissions

References available on request