Using scores clinically # could also help providers ensure that patients with high scores receive care management services or other support to help them live their best life and keep on top of the tests, treatments and lifestyle changes that can help them do so.

Assessing the total impact of a person's health conditions is important because 80 per cent of adults over the age of 65 have more than one condition, and 45 per cent of all adults have more than one, says Wei.For instance, the finding that suicide risk rose sharply as MWI score rose could help clinicians think about which patients might be most in need of depression and suicide screening. Physical impairments are just the beginning."

Multi-morbidity has several downstream consequences. As patients develop more conditions with age, physicians may want to monitor their mental health more closely, and offer appropriate lifestyle advice and treatment. (Photo: Reprsentational/Pixabay) Washington: A new research has found that multi-morbidity scores can help doctors understand their patients' overall prognosis and can help researchers identify risks faced by people with multiple chronic illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease. The research that Melissa Wei and colleagues have done on the impacts of high MWI scores across groups of patients could also help guide care.. As patients develop more conditions with age, physicians may want to monitor their mental health more closely, and offer appropriate lifestyle advice and treatment.Even though most of the chronic conditions included in the index have no direct relationship to brain health, the higher a person's score, the faster they declined over a 14-year period in their ability to recall words and do simple math. As conditions accumulate and physical functioning deteriorates, we have found this is closely linked to worse mental health, social health, and eventually premature mortality," she added

Hide Comments | Add Comment