Comorbid Medical Difficulties

Photo by jesse orrico on Unsplash

Written by: Patrick Randolph, Ph.D.
Date updated: 3/10/2021

Comorbid difficulties refer to one or more diseases that occur along with another condition in the same person at the same time, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Comorbidities are often long-term or chronic conditions, which increase the chances of being less functional in day to day activities, dying early, being hospitalized, experiencing complications, decreasing healing rates, and worse outcomes following surgery. Depressive Disorders are much more common-place among those with chronic medical conditions compared to the general U.S. populations. The presence of medical-psychiatric comorbidity is related to length of hospital stay higher medical costs and re-hospitalizations.

Other helpful links:

• CDC Article on Multiple Chronic Conditions

• Worse Outcomes to Hip and Knee Replacement

• Less Likely to Beat Cancer

• Complications After Surgery