Risk for sufferers of multiple illnesses (Australian article)

Risk for sufferers of multiple illnesses

Thursday, September 24, 2009 » 02:08pm

A study has found people with multiple health worries are at a higher risk of developing further illnesses.

A study has found people with multiple health worries are at a higher risk of developing further illnesses.

People with multiple health worries are at a higher risk of developing further illnesses than those with only one, a new study has found.

And they are being disadvantaged by a health system principally designed to cater to individual conditions, its authors suggest.

Having two or more illnesses, or comorbidity as it’s called, puts patients at higher risk in three ways, the Serious and Continuing Illness Policy and Practice Study found.

First, those with multiple medical conditions are more likely to get sicker because they’re eating poorly to begin with, exercising less or are stressed.

Having several illnesses also made it harder for patients to identify new symptoms, commonly choosing to dismiss it as a part of an existing condition.

Lastly, comorbidity reduced a person’s ability to effectively manage their combined treatments.

Health care providers interviewed in the study said having multiple conditions deterred people from staying in rehabilitation or care because the system was not equipped to deal with comorbidity.

It proved Australia’s health system was failing this hidden group of sufferers, said Tanisha Jowsey, one of the report’s authors from the Australian National University.

‘We need clearer guidelines about managing common combinations of illnesses, particularly when they have similar symptoms but different treatments,’ she said in a statement.

People with multiple illnesses and their carers needed practical information and skills, so they could make good decisions in complex situations and seek appropriate help from health professionals.

‘Otherwise, they will continue to miss the warning signs of major health problems.’

A total 129 people were interviewed for the study, which has been published in the online journal, Australia and New Zealand Health Policy.

This is so true. Confusion abounds, differing opinions, consultant doctors only specialised in their own specific area who treat one problem in isolation to the other. Side-effects from treatment of one problem, affecting one of the other problems.

And the worst in many ways… Not being believed! This just delays diagnosis, treatment, and your own sanity.

It’s a little like the Oscar Wilde quotation,

“To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”

“To have one illness is a misfortune, to have two looks like carelessness”

hi Ro,

I’m not sure the article was particularly making a point about a person’s resourcefulness. Most people find much strength in adversity. I think it was mostly aimed at the various health systems which seem less able to cope with people who have multiple problems, and it has been my experience that key symptoms are dismissed or wrongly attributed to known problems rather than being investigated fully as a potential separate problem. It can easily swing both ways.

I think it is good that a health provider, is actually considering these difficulties.

I’m not sure I understand your other comments, they seem quite critical toward me. Your response seemed quite tetchy.
I think you may have misunderstood my last comment, the twisted quote. It was an expression of the kinds of attitude I have come across, it wasn’t directed at anyone here. I do not and would never call anyone with more than one health problem ‘careless’. But I have been in that situation many times, where that kind of attitude has been directed toward me. I have many health problems, which I do not wish to discuss here, at least not at this point in time.

Of course I have heard the saying “walk a mile in my shoes” … Now here’s my old school motto,

Temere Non judicandum, Judge not rashly.

Jon