This Hearte module looks at multiple conditions (where someone is living with more than one-long term condition). In 2014 46% of adults had one or more long-term conditions. The prevalence of long-term conditions increased with age, from a quarter (25%) of adults aged 16 – 24 to three-quarters (77%) of those aged 75 and over (Scottish Health Survey 2014).
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The majority of people in Scotland living with a long-term condition have more than one. By the age of 65 more than 50% of Scots have two or more conditions and the majority of over-75s have three or more conditions. The likelihood of having both a long-term condition, as well as a greater number of them, increases as you get older. Given that the Scottish population is ageing, with the greatest increase being in the oldest age groups, this has major implications for the way we provide health care. According to Harding et al (2013) it is estimated that by 2032 the percentage of the population aged 65 and over will increase by 49%, while those aged over 90 will increase by 148%. Multi-morbidity is more common and occurs at a younger age as deprivation increases. People living in the most deprived areas tend to develop multi-morbidities 10 – 15 years before those living in more affluent areas. In addition, mental health issues are strongly associated with the number of physical conditions that people have.
People living with a long term condition
- Are more likely to suffer from psychological problems.
- Are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital.
- Stay in hospital disproportionally longer.
- Account for over 60% of hospital bed days.
- Are more likely to be more disadvantaged across a range of social indicators.
- Someone living in a disadvantaged area is twice as likely to have a long term condition as someone living in an affluent area.
- Are more likely to develop the long term illness at an earlier age – a difference of as much as ten years.
Pulse point
There are a number of terms used to describe living with more than one condition. These include:
- multiple conditions
- multiple morbidity
- multi morbidity
- co-morbidity
We will use the term multiple conditions in this resource.
Page last reviewed: 25 Sep 2020
