Table 2

Studies Reporting Prevalence of Multimorbidity in the General Population

SampleMethods
Study (Year)CountryNo. of IndividualsAge, yRecruitmentData CollectionNo. of Diagnoses Considered
Verbrugge et al (1989)27United States16,148≥551984 National Health Interview Survey, the Supplement on AgingQuestionnaire completed by interview13
Newacheck et al (1991)24United States7,46510–171988 National Health Interview Survey on Child HealthQuestionnaire completed by interview>50
Hoffman et al (1996)22United States27,505All1987 National Medical Expenditure SurveyQuestionnaire completed by interviewAll chronic conditions classified in ICD-9 codes
Fuchs et al (1998)26Israel1,48775–94A national random stratified sampleQuestionnaire completed by interview14
Menotti et al (2001)20Finland, The Netherlands, Italy716 (Finland), 887 (the Netherlands), and 682 (Italy)Men 65–84Cohorts recruited in particular locationsClinical examination7
Rapoport et al (2004)25Canada17,244>201999 National Population Health SurveyQuestionnaire completed by interview22
Partnership for Solutions (2004)29United States(Not reported)All2001 National Medical Expenditure SurveyQuestionnaire completed by interviewAll chronic conditions classified in ICD-9 codes
Naughton et al (2006)23Ireland316,928Individuals from a national pharmacy claims databaseConditions identified from ≥3 dispensed items associated with a specific chronic condition9
Nagel et al (2008)21Germany13,78150–75Participants in the EPIC subcohort of Heidelberg recruited from the general populationQuestionnaire completed by interview13 diagnostic groups
Marengoni et al (2008)19Sweden1,09977–100Inhabitants of the Kungsholmen area in StockholmClinical assessment, medical history, laboratory data, and current drug useAll chronic conditions
Schram et al (2008)30The Netherlands1,691+1,002 (LASA), 7,983 (Rotterdam), and 599 (Leiden)55–94 (LASA), ≥65 (Rotterdam), 85 (Leiden)Inhabitants of the different geographic locationsMedical history from self-reports as well as from the GP (LASA); an extensive physical examination (Rotterdam); medical history obtained from GP or treating nursing home physician (Leiden)Varied by location: 12 diagnoses (LASA), 12 diagnoses (Rotterdam), and 13 diagnoses (Leiden)
Cazale and Dumitru (2008)28Canada~26,000≥12Quebec residents included in the 2005 National Population Health SurveyQuestionnaire completed by interview7
Loza et al (2009)18Spain2,192>20National random sample taking into account the Spanish rural-urban ratioQuestionnaire completed by interviewAll diseases
  • EPIC = European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition; GP = general practitioner; ICD-9=International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision; LASA=Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam.