Multimorbidity - A Public Health Challenge

Abstract Multimorbidity has been identified as one of the major health care concerns of the 21st century. Multimorbidity represents a major public health challenge in both developing and developed countries of the world. Although multimorbidity is considered a health problem of the elderly, a significant number of young and middle-aged people also have multimorbidity. Multimorbidity has a major impact on individuals and negatively affects quality of life, significantly increases the risk of disability and mortality, complicates the treatment process, poses a risk of repeated hospitalization, prolonged hospital stay, polypharmacy and adverse events, increases the use and costs of health care, and represents a significant economic burden on the individual, family and health system. Managing multimorbidity requires a multidisciplinary team to formulate active measures to improve health outcomes and quality of life of multimorbid patients, as well as comprehensive and coordinated health care for these patients. Due to the aging population and the consequent increase in multimorbidity and health service utilization in the future, health systems should prioritize improving the management of multimorbid patients. This would significantly increase the efficiency of health care and improve health outcomes and quality of life for patients with multimorbidity.