%0 Journal Article
%T Multimorbidity in M芋ori and Pacific patients: cross-sectional study in a Dunedin general practice
%A Fiona Doolan Noble
%A Mayur Azam
%A Tim Stokes
%J Journal of Primary Health Care
%D 2018
%R 10.1071/HC17046
%X Abstract INTRODUCTION: Multimorbidity is a major issue in primary health care. AIM: To determine the prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy in one general practice in relation to age, sex and socioeconomic deprivation in M芋ori and Pacific patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using data manually extracted from electronic medical records was conducted using a stratified random sample of M芋ori and Pacific patients aged ≡ 35 years who were enrolled with a large urban Dunedin general practice. The data were analysed to identify the number and type of morbidities, and prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy in relation to age, sex and socioeconomic deprivation. RESULTS: Half (52.5% [95% CI 44.5每60.4]) of M芋ori and 64.3% (95% CI 51.9每75.4) of Pacific patients had multimorbidity; 22.8% (95% CI 16.6每30.1) of M芋ori and 10.0% (95% CI 4.1每19.5) of Pacific patients had physical and mental health co-morbidity. Fewer (13.6% [95% CI 8.7每19.8]) M芋ori than Pacific patients (32.9% [95% CI 22.1每45.1]) had polypharmacy. The prevalence of multimorbidity in both M芋ori and Pacific patients increased with age and with increasing levels of socioeconomic deprivation. The eight most prevalent chronic conditions in both M芋ori and Pacific patients were obesity, anxiety or depression, hypertension, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gout, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of multimorbidity in M芋ori and Pacific patients requires the New Zealand health system to deliver culturally competent primary health care and to re-orientate health-care delivery around multimorbidity.
%U http://www.publish.csiro.au/HC/fulltext/HC17046