TY - JOUR T1 - Morbidity matters: challenges for research JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - e215 LP - e216 DO - 10.3399/bjgp15X684301 VL - 65 IS - 633 AU - FD Richard Hobbs AU - Maureen Baker AU - Dame Sally C Davies Y1 - 2015/04/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/65/633/e215.abstract N2 - Multimorbidity is an immediate and expanding challenge for many health systems, including the NHS. It can be defined as the coexistence of several chronic diseases or medical conditions in one person. It is increasingly common among older people, as effective interventions reduce fatal events but increase the prevalent disease population, and life expectancy of the general population continues to rise. As a result, multimorbidity is now a fundamental care issue that presents a number of complex challenges for health systems, patients, and clinicians to address.Almost one-in-three people in the UK — or 15 million individuals — have a long-term condition (LTC). Half the population aged >60 years now has a LTC. Those with LTCs account for half of all GP appointments and 70% of inpatient bed days. It is estimated that treatment and care of these patients account for 70% of the acute care budget in England; over two-thirds of NHS expenditure for one-third of the population. Those with LTCs are also likely to have a lower quality of life.1On Friday 7 November 2014, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) jointly hosted the Multimorbidity Research Workshop at the RCGP, attended by more than 50 leading experts in the field of complex LTCs. The aims of the workshop were to identify challenges to research on multimorbidity and to prioritise research questions for research funders that may improve patient experience and management in primary and hospital care.Professor Chris Salisbury, chair of the Scientific Foundation Board of the RCGP, set the scene with a presentation on ‘Challenges for Research: What are they and how can they be addressed?’ Although GPs, as expert medical generalists, are more likely to take a holistic and comprehensive view of patient care, even in general practice … ER -