Multimorbidity in Maori and Pacific patients: cross-sectional study in a Dunedin general practice

INTRODUCTION: Multimorbidity is a major issue in primary health care. AIM: To determine the prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy in one general practice in relation to age, sex and socioeconomic deprivation in Maori and Pacific patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using data manually extracted from electronic medical records was conducted using a stratified random sample of Maori and Pacific patients aged >= 35 years who were enrolled with a large urban Dunedin general practice. The data were analysed to identify the number and type of morbidities, and prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy in relation to age, sex and socioeconomic deprivation. RESULTS: Half (52.5% [95% CI 44.5-60.4]) of Maori and 64.3% (95% CI 51.9-75.4) of Pacific patients had multimorbidity; 22.8% (95% CI 16.6-30.1) of Maori and 10.0% (95% CI 4.1-19.5) of Pacific patients had physical and mental health co-morbidity. Fewer (13.6% [95% CI 8.7-19.8]) Maori than Pacific patients (32.9% [95% CI 22.1-45.1]) had polypharmacy. The prevalence of multimorbidity in both Maori and Pacific patients increased with age and with increasing levels of socioeconomic deprivation. The eight most prevalent chronic conditions in both Maori and Pacific patients wereC obesity, anxiety or depression, hypertension, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gout, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of multimorbidity in Maori and Pacific patients requires the New Zealand health system to deliver culturally competent primary health care and to re-orientate health-care delivery around multimorbidity.