A study on the prevalence of multi-morbidities of diseases and utilisation of public healthcare services in the New Territories West area of Hong Kong

Objectives: Public primary care services in the New Territories West area of Hong Kong (NTWHK) serve some of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged populations in Hong Kong. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of multi-morbidity and its association with utilisation of public healthcare service in NTWHK. Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study by reviewing the electronic medical records. Subjects: A random sample of 382 adult patients aged 40 or above attending the service's public primary care in 2012. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of multi- morbidity (defined as presence of 2 or more), of chronic conditions associated with the utilisation of public healthcare services by those patients with multi-morbidity. Results: The prevalence of multi-morbidity in our sample was 54%. Fourteen chronic conditions were associated with multi-morbidity and diabetes had the strongest association. Adjusted for age, sex and presence of psychiatric illness, increased number of morbidity was associated with increased specialist outpatient clinic attendance and casualty visits, as well as hospital admissions. Conclusion: Multi-morbidity was common and most frequently seen among patients with diabetes in the public primary care clinics in Hong Kong. It also appeared to be associated with higher health care utilisation.