Patients often experience two or more health challenges at the same time. This is called “comorbidity” — when multiple illnesses, diseases, or conditions coexist and affect physical or mental health.
Comorbitidies can complicate treatment for one, or all, conditions a patient faces. For example, many patients with co-occurring diabetes and hypertension have elevated blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems. Doctors need to prescribe medication and treatment methods that don’t interfere with either condition or its additional symptoms.
In a single year, more than 84% of all inpatient visits were complicated by two or more comorbidities. An estimated 50% of all patients faced three or more comorbidities. Comorbidity is also an unequal offender. It affects low-income, uninsured adults more than other populations.
Here are a few common comorbidities:
Hypertension is the most common comorbidity, though it’s far from the only one patients might face. It’s important for providers to understand any comorbidities a patient experiences. Patients should also understand how their comorbidities might affect treatment planning, diagnosis, outcomes, and healthcare costs.
Certain factors can elevate your risk for developing a comorbidity. These factors can include your age, gender, and genetics. Your medical history, and lifestyle factors like diet and exercise, can also influence your risk of comorbidity.
Some factors that influence comorbidities can’t be changed. These include your age, gender, and genetics. Together, these three factors help determine your predisposition for developing comorbidities or standalone chronic conditions.
Age will slowly change the way your body operates. It will slow your immune system and make you more susceptible to some medical conditions. For example, older people are often at an increased risk for developing osteoporosis and diabetes.
Gender and genetics also influence your risk for comorbidity development. Women are more likely to develop several types of infectious diseases. Hormonal differences mean men are more likely to contract Parkinson’s Disease and melanoma. Your risk for comorbidity might also be higher, or lower, if a family member has a medical condition.
Not all factors influencing comorbidity are unchangeable. Lifestyle factors like your diet, exercise habits, and alcohol consumption also help decide your risk for developing a comorbidity.
A poor diet, one that contains large amounts of sugars and saturated fats, can increase your risk for developing obesity. Just as easily, a well-structured diet of fruits and vegetables can help prevent conditions like diabetes. Reduce alcohol intake to minimize your risk for liver disease and hypertension.
Physical activity is also a determining factor for comorbidity. Make sure you reserve time for exercise each day, even if that’s only a walk around the neighborhood. Research suggests a strong relationship between exercise and chronic disease prevention.
Pre-existing health conditions can further affect your risk for comorbidity. You may be at a greater risk for developing comorbidities if you already have hypertension or heart disease.
The contents of your family medical history can also help determine whether comorbidities are in your future. For example, a family history of diabetes might increase your risk of developing the same condition. It’s important to request and review your medical records to better understand your full health profile.
Comorbidities include both physical and mental health conditions, and each affects you differently. Multiple medical conditions sometimes make treatment more complicated — but not impossible.
Comorbidities require close collaboration between a patient and their provider. Work with your clinician to follow a treatment plan that addresses all health challenges you face.
Comorbidities can create challenges during treatment. Patients might take multiple medications to address multiple health issues. Different forms of medication can create adverse side effects when mixed or taken together. This process can also increase the burden of healthcare costs for a patient.
A comprehensive treatment plan benefits patients with any medical challenge. For patients with comorbidities, comprehensive treatment is even more important. This type of treatment plan considers all aspects of a patient’s health, including all health challenges they face.
Comprehensive treatment plans share a few common characteristics:
Patients with comorbidities should request a comprehensive treatment plan, one that considers all aspects of their health.
Many patients have different health conditions that require input from different specialists. Multidisciplinary treatment encourages cooperation between healthcare professionals with different backgrounds. This helps improve treatment efficiency and accuracy, two factors that heavily influence patient outcomes. Together, specialists consider a patient’s symptoms and conditions before creating a treatment plan to address them.
Comorbidities can be intimidating, particularly if they prevent you from enjoying a better quality of life. Fortunately, there are ways that you can minimize the effects of comorbidity. You can mitigate the hazards of comorbidities by regularly connecting with your doctor, changing your lifestyle, and managing medications.
Regular check-ups allow your doctor to identify medical issues before they evolve. They will monitor your condition, offer a treatment plan, and help minimize the risk of medication-related problems. Check-ups also give your doctor the chance to assess how a treatment-resistant disorder might be progressing.
It’s important to schedule regular visits with a clinician who understands your condition. For example, connect with a psychiatrist or a psychologist if you experience mental health comorbidities. Schedule a visit with a therapist or counselor to address unresolved conflicts in your life that might also affect your health.
You also have a role to play in treating comorbidity. Building healthy habits can help limit stress and give your body the best chance for success. Beyond changes to diet and exercise, consider exploring relaxation techniques like Pilates or stretching. You might also enjoy meditation, which helps you center your thoughts and neutralize negative emotions.
Proper medication management can greatly reduce your risk for any medication-related issues. First, it’s important to connect with a provider to confirm which medications you are taking. Take medications only as they are prescribed, without changing the dosage or the schedule. Consider using a pill organizer that separates different medications into the specific days, even hours, when you should take them.
The best approach to a patient’s comorbidities is a collaborative one. Providers should coordinate a patient’s appointments and medications to prevent any overlap in their treatment plan. This also helps avoid any duplicate testing, keeping patients’ medical bills to an appropriate minimum. You can encourage coordination between clinicians by providing each with your medical history. Make sure that each doctor is familiar with any other specialists you might be visiting.
