Multimorbidity in non-communicable diseases in South African primary healthcare

Abstract

About half of the patients with NCDs had comorbidity, and multimorbidity was common in patients with COPD and osteoarthritis. However, levels of multimorbidity were substantially lower than reported in higher-income countries. Future clinical guidelines, training of PHC nurses and involvement of doctors in the continuum of care should address the complexity of patients with NCDs and multimorbidity.