Managing multimorbidity: Profiles of integrated care approaches targeting people with multiple chronic conditions in Europe

Abstract

In response to the growing populations of people with multiple chronic diseases, new models of care are currently being developed in European countries to better meet the needs of these people. This paper aims to describe the occurrence and characteristics of various types of integrated care practices in European countries that target people with multimorbidity.

Data were analysed from multimorbidity care practices participating in the Innovating care for people with multiple chronic conditions (ICARE4EU) project, covering all 28 EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

A total of 112 practices in 24 countries were included: 65 focus on patients with any combination of chronic diseases, 30 on patients with a specific chronic disease with all kinds of comorbidities and 17 on patients with a combination of specific chronic diseases. Practices that focus on a specific index disease or a combination of specific diseases are less extensive regarding the type, breadth and degree of integration than practices that focus on any combination of diseases. The latter type is more often seen in countries where more disciplines, e.g. community nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, work in the same primary care practice as the general practitioners.

Non-disease specific practices put more emphasis on patient involvement and provide more comprehensive care, which are important preconditions for person-centered multimorbidity care.