Multimorbidity: Not Just for the West.

Amitava Banerjee,John Hurst,J Jaime Miranda,Edward Fottrell

doi:10.5334/gh.835

Amitava Banerjee, John Hurst + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5334/gh.835

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Abstract

“A multimorbidity lens creates exciting opportunities to reconceptualise health and wellbeing in all its complexity. We need to improve health metrics to capture this complexity and strengthen health services to respond to it.”

Highlights

The ‘diseases of affluence’ model was turned upside down in the 1990s by the recognition that the burden of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, cancer and other chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) was not just high in high-income countries (HICs); 80% of the global NCD burden was in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [1]
LMICs and their health systems have unique opportunities to leapfrog advances in healthcare delivery by not replicating the same structures of healthcare established in HICs
We explore this on three fronts, data, human resources, and care guidelines, whilst acknowledging progress in each aspect requires multisectoral support

Summary

Introduction

The ‘diseases of affluence’ model was turned upside down in the 1990s by the recognition that the burden of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, cancer and other chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) was not just high in high-income countries (HICs); 80% of the global NCD burden was in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [1]. This neglect of NCDs has delayed prioritisation and allocation of resources (human, financial and infrastructural) to biomedical research, training of health professionals and healthcare [2], leaving the poorest countries with the greatest need with the greatest gaps in care and in data.

Results

Conclusion