In an exploratory prospective study on multimorbidity general and disease-related susceptibility could be distinguished

Abstract 

Objectives

To further disentangle multimorbidity and its relation with psychosocial characteristics, by categorizing combinations of diseases within a patient as general or disease-related susceptibility, based on the presence or absence of a pathophysiological communality of diseases.

Study Design and Setting

A cohort of 3,460 patients that previously took part in a study on multimorbidity was followed up for a period of 2 years. Context: the Registration Network Family Practices, which is a continuous and computerized database in Dutch general practice that covered over 60,000 patients at the time of the study.

Results

During 2-year follow-up 91.6% did not show susceptibility, 4.2% showed general susceptibility, 1.4% disease-related susceptibility, 0.8% both general and disease-related susceptibility, and 1.9% patients could not be classified. None of the studied characteristics was significantly related to the occurrence of disease-related susceptibility. A decreased risk for general disease susceptibility related to an internal health locus of control, an active and palliative coping style, and the occurrence of positive life events.

Conclusion

The distinction between general susceptibility and disease-related susceptibility is feasible and seems useful. Further development of this methodology is needed, as is confirmation of these results in a larger study population.

Keywords: Disease susceptibility, Multimorbidity, Primary care, Prospective cohort, Psychosocial