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Measuring multimorbidity in research: Delphi consensus study

Iris S S Ho, Amaya Azcoaga-Lorenzo Orcid Logo, Ashley Akbari Orcid Logo, Jim Davies, Kamlesh Khunti Orcid Logo, Umesh T Kadam, Ronan Lyons Orcid Logo, Colin McCowan, Stewart W Mercer Orcid Logo, Krishnarajah Nirantharakumar, Sophie Staniszewska, Bruce Guthrie Orcid Logo

BMJ Medicine, Volume: 1, Issue: 1, Start page: e000247

Swansea University Authors: Ashley Akbari Orcid Logo, Ronan Lyons Orcid Logo

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Abstract

Objective To develop international consensus on the definition and measurement of multimorbidity in research.Design Delphi consensus study.Setting International consensus; data collected in three online rounds from participants between 30 November 2020 and 18 May 2021.Participants Professionals inte...

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Published in: BMJ Medicine
ISSN: 2754-0413
Published: BMJ 2022
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60877
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Abstract: Objective To develop international consensus on the definition and measurement of multimorbidity in research.Design Delphi consensus study.Setting International consensus; data collected in three online rounds from participants between 30 November 2020 and 18 May 2021.Participants Professionals interested in multimorbidity and people with long term conditions were recruited to professional and public panels.Results 150 professional and 25 public participants completed the first survey round. Response rates for rounds 2/3 were 83%/92% for professionals and 88%/93% in the public panel, respectively. Across both panels, the consensus was that multimorbidity should be defined as two or more long term conditions. Complex multimorbidity was perceived to be a useful concept, but the panels were unable to agree on how to define it. Both panels agreed that conditions should be included in a multimorbidity measure if they were one or more of the following: currently active; permanent in their effects; requiring current treatment, care, or therapy; requiring surveillance; or relapsing-remitting conditions requiring ongoing care. Consensus was reached for 24 conditions to always include in multimorbidity measures, and 35 conditions to usually include unless a good reason not to existed. Simple counts were preferred for estimating prevalence and examining clustering or trajectories, and weighted measures were preferred for risk adjustment and outcome prediction.Conclusions Previous multimorbidity research is limited by inconsistent definitions and approaches to measuring multimorbidity. This Delphi study identifies professional and public panel consensus guidance to facilitate consistency of definition and measurement, and to improve study comparability and reproducibility.
Item Description: Data availability statement:Data are available upon reasonable request
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Funders: This study was funded by Health Data Research UK. . SS is part funded by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands, NIHR Health Protection Research Unit Gastrointestinal Infections, and NIHR HPRU Genomics and Enabling data.
Issue: 1
Start Page: e000247