Measuring Multimorbidity with Individualized Disease-specific QOL Impact Scales

Principal Investigator: Ware, John
Institution/Partners: University of Massachusetts Med School Worcester
Project Period: 05/01/14-04/30/15
Grant Number: R21 HS23117-01

Description

It is well documented that multimorbidity, or multiple chronic conditions (MCC), impairs patients' functioning and health-related quality of life (QOL). However, our ability to study the impact of multimorbidity is hampered by methodological problems underlying conceptualization and measurement, including a lack of a common definition, proliferation of diverse multimorbidity indexes, widespread reliance on indexes using population weights, and a paucity of indexes that take individual assessment of disease burden into account. The goal of the study is to address the methodological barrier in the field of health status assessment and development of QOL measures for MCC population, thereby improving the assessment of the MCC impact on patient reported outcomes (PRO) and Quality of life (QOL).

Specific Aims

1. Explore the extent to which MCC patients can make valid attributions to specific conditions when reporting disease impact on QOL.
2. Systematically evaluate different MCC aggregation methods to predict generic PRO.
3. Cross-validate methods and results with independent data.

Main Objective

Address methodological barrier in the field of health status assessment and development of QOL measures for MCC population.

Chronic Conditions Considered

36 chronic conditions

Study Design, Data Sources, & Sample Size

Secondary analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal data collected in 2011 and 2012 for 10,624 adults from two independent samples, pursuant to the NIA-sponsored DICAT grant.

Strategies Addressed from the HHS Strategic Framework on Multiple Chronic Conditions

• 4.B. Understand the epidemiology of multiple chronic conditions
• 4.C. Increase clinical health research