Multimorbidity in secondary care V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Multimorbidity in secondary care: prevalence and outcomes
IRAS ID
205260
Contact name
Corri Black
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, days
Research summary
Multimorbidity, the coexistence multiple chronic diseases in the same individual, has been identified as a major health challenge, associated with higher mortality, reduced functional status and increased use of health services. In Scotland multimorbidity is common, and most people with a long-term disorder are multimorbid. We know about multimorbidity in primary care and general populations. Studying multimorbidity in hospitalised patients is also very important. It is highly clinically relevant when identifying those most at risk at point of admission. Secondary care is often the setting for research studies, therefore there is a need for appropriate multimorbidity tools/measures. Few studies have been carried out in hospitalised patients, and these are are mostly in older, sicker patients.
This study will address these important gaps by investigating multimorbidity in hospitalised patients 18 years or older in Grampian. Funded by NHS Grampian, we will use computerised hospital records and death registry data. We will include all adults who were admitted to hospital in 2014 in Grampian. We will evaluate how well measures identify people with multimorbidity, and describe the burden of multimorbidity in these patients. We will investigate whether multimorbidity affects the length of time patients spend in hospital, and whether multimorbidity has an impact on future admissions and risk of dying.
There is a potential confidentiality risk when using patient data, but the risk to patient privacy is low as the data will be stored securely within the joint NHS Grampian and University of Aberdeen Grampian Data Safe Haven (DaSH). All researchers have appropriate training in Good Clinical Practice and Information Governance. By understanding multimorbidity in a hospitalised population, the findings of this study will help hospital planners, and clinicians, plan health care services for people with multimorbidity. There will also be a benefit locally, by developing NHS Grampian’s data systems.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
16/NI/0088
Date of REC Opinion
9 May 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion