More than 25 percentTwo or more long-term conditions affect at least half of the adults in Britain. The percentage increases to 65 per cent for people over 65, and almost 82 per cent for those 85 years or older.
This study was conducted to provide an overview of the findings.How a number multiple long-term conditions (psychosis, You can also find out more about DiabetesWhat can happen to life expectancy as these conditions (such as congestive cardiac failure and hypertension) progress over time? These conditions were chosen because they together can result in a substantial reduction of life expectancy.
We studied the progression of these conditions in more than 1.6 millions adults aged 25 or older over a twenty-year period. We used the data stored within the SAIL databankThis secure system allows access to anonymized health and administrative data collected by the government of Wales.
Patients and members of the public in the UK were interviewed to learn about their experiences with multiple long-term illnesses.
Using statistical models, we examined the order and timing of developing psychosis, diabetes and congestive heart failure in patients of the same age, sex and area-level deprivation – and the related impact on their life expectancy.
Order to reduce the impact of diseases
In our study, we found that the order of disease development had a major impact on life span. The greatest loss of life expectancy was experienced by people who developed congestive cardiac failure, diabetes, and psychosis in that order.
People who had the same condition in a slightly different order were affected less. For example, the order of the three diseases could affect the life expectancy for a man aged 50 in an averagely deprived area by more than 10 year.
Our research found that those who developed diabetes first, then psychosis and finally congestive cardiac failure had a greater risk of developing a subsequent long-term condition or dying within five year of their diagnosis.
The development of additional conditions does not always have a life-threatening effect. For example, people diagnosed with psychosis and diabetes – in any order – had a higher life expectancy than those diagnosed with psychosis alone. This was a surprising result, but we expected people with diabetes to be in more frequent contact with healthcare professionals, through diabetic clinics for example. This may improve their health.
The study found that the combination of congestive cardiac failure and psychosis, in any order, had an effect similar to that of the “worst-case” scenario, which is diabetes, psychosis, and congestive cardiovascular failure.
This is the first research to look at how the order in which multiple long-term diseases develop affects the life expectancy of a person. This research can be used by patients, healthcare professionals and decision makers to help them identify diseases and manage patient care. This would lead to better outcomes for the NHS and patients.
Our research can also help support healthcare delivery, by identifying factors that increase the risk of a person developing a disease and identifying opportunities for early disease detection and intervention.
Our research: How to apply it
Future research could assess the effectiveness of screening programs in delaying further long-term diseases and prolonging life.
However, it is important to note that our research used information from routinely collected health records, which are not always accurate – some diagnoses may be missing or delayed. Diagnoses are also not always described accurately. This is all very important to be able estimate accurately the impact of long-term conditions.
Health Data Research UK funds further researchThe National Institute for Health Data Science, or, is a national organization that aims at harmonizing the collection and reporting of health data. The quality of the data obtained from routinely collected records will be improved over time.
While our study examined the development of one group of multiple long-term conditions, this approach could be replicated for any other combination of conditions – including the development of long-term health conditions following COVID-19Long COVID, and its impact on quality of living.
People with multiple chronic conditions are more likely to use healthcare services, medications and have difficulty with their daily activities. It can lead to reduced quality of living and reduced life expectancy.
Our research shows that the order and combination of long-term diseases can have a significant impact on life expectancy. The relationship between the two can be complex. Further disease may not reduce your life expectancy.
Rhiannon OwenProfessor of Statistics Swansea University
This article was originally published by The ConversationCreative Commons licensed. Read the Original article.
