A multi-institutional, hospital-based assessment of clinical, functional, sociofamilial and health-care characteristics of polypathological patients (PP)

Little is known about the main features of the emergent population of PP. Our objective was to determine the clinical, care and social characteristics of a multi-institutional population of PP, by means of a cross-sectional study including a reference population of hospital-based PP from 36 hospitals. The main clinical, functional, mental and social features and their associated factors were assessed: 1632 PP (53% males, mean age 77.9 ± 9.8 years) were included. An informal caregiver was required by 52% (78% of caregivers were close female relatives). The mean inclusion criteria (Cat): were 2.7 ± 0.8 (49.5% presented ≥3 Cat). The most frequent inclusion Cat were heart (77.5%), lung (45.6%), neurological (38.2%), and kidney diseases (32.2%), whereas the mean of other comorbidities was 4.5 ± 2.7 per PP. The mean Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 4; 47.6%, and 52.4% presented dyspnea ≥3 on the NYHA, and on the MRC, respectively; nearly 19% required home oxygen therapy, 19% had suffered >1 fall in previous year, and 11% suffered an active neoplasia. The mean hospital admissions in last 12/3 months, and chronically prescribed drugs were 2/1, and 8 ± 3, respectively. More than 70% presented obesity, while 60% had hypoalbuminemia. The basal/inclusion Barthel index (BI) score was 69 ± 31/58 ± 34 (BI score < 60 was present in 31.5%/44%, respectively); and the mean Pfeiffer score was 2.94 ± 3.2 (43% answered with ≥3 errors). More than half of the subjects were at risk or already had established social problems. This emergent population is considerably homogeneous, highly complex, clinically vulnerable, functionally impaired, dependent on caregivers and socially fragile. They need to receive more attention in clinical research and more support in health interventions based on comprehensive attention and continuity of care.