According to a study published in the PLOS ONE, multimorbidity is linked to a 48% higher risk of a positive COVID-19 test.
Multimorbidity is a medical condition in which two or more long term heath conditions are present in a patient’s body.
So far, there is enough evidences which suggest that certain long term illnesses increase the risk of covid infection. However, little is known about multimorbidity and polypharmacy.
Polypharmacy is about taking multiple medications.
The study is led by the University of Glasgow. It claims to be the first which examined the effects of both multimorbidity and polypharmacy on COVID-19 patients. This association was more visible in covid patients who were suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure.
Multimorbidity and polypharmacy were found to be associated with a 77% higher risk of a positive COVID-19 test.
Non-white people having this multimorbidity had almost three times more chances of getting infected with COVID-19 test, the researchers found.
The researchers also found that people living in slum areas had the highest risk of COVID-19 infection if they were suffering from multimorbidity.
Dr. Barbara Nicholl, from the University of Glasgow who led the study, said: “Multimorbidity and polypharmacy are global healthcare challenges in their own right. Our study shows that having a positive COVID-19 test is more common in those living with these health conditions. These results will be important for public health and clinical decisions in the future as we continue to manage the health of those at greatest risk of a severe COVID-19 infection during this pandemic.”
The research stresses the need for more detailed understanding of link between multimorbidity in older age group and Covid-19.
The study was conducted on 428,199 adults aged 37-73 at the time of recruitment (2006-2010). People were included from England and Wales.
