Epidemiology of multimorbidity in New Zealand: a cross-sectional study using national-level hospital and pharmaceutical data.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:To describe the prevalence of multimorbidity (presence of two or more long-term health conditions) in the New Zealand (NZ) population, and compare risk of health outcomes by multimorbidity status. DESIGN:Cross-sectional analysis for prevalence of multimorbidity, with 1-year prospective follow-up for health outcomes. SETTING:NZ general population using national-level routine health data on hospital discharges and pharmaceutical dispensing. PARTICIPANTS:All NZ adults (aged 18+, n=3 489 747) with an active National Health Index number at the index date (1 January 2014). OUTCOME MEASURES:Prevalence of multimorbidity was calculated using two data sources: prior routine hospital discharge data (61 ICD-10 coded diagnoses from the M3 multimorbidity index); and recent pharmaceutical disp

SUBMITTER: Stanley J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5988147 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature