Different definitions of multimorbidity and their effect on prevalence rates: a retrospective study in German general practices.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Multimorbidity is common among general practice patients and increases a general practitioner's (GP's) workload. But the extent of multimorbidity may depend on its definition and whether a time delimiter is included in the definition or not.

Aims

The aims of the study were (1) to compare practice prevalence rates yielded by different models of multimorbidity, (2) to determine how a time delimiter influences the prevalence rates and (3) to assess the effects of multimorbidity on the number of direct and indirect patient contacts as an indicator of doctors' workload.

Methods

This retrospective observational study used electronic medical records from 142 German general practices, covering 13 years from 1994 to 2007. The four models of multimorbidity ranged fro

SUBMITTER: Hauswaldt J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8991077 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature