A study conducted by the Newcastle University concluded that people will live longer but will not be healthier. The study’s author said that the number of elderly who suffer from more than four medical conditions will double, by 2035.
Multi-morbidity is more and more common
Multi-morbidity or the condition of being ill of more than one fatal medical condition is more and more common among the people of over 65. The most common multi-morbidity illnesses include cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders.
Moreover, researchers observed that 33% of the people diagnosed with multi-morbidity suffer from dementia or depression. Also, cognitive impairment is a common condition in those with multi-morbidity.
People will live longer but won’t be healthier
Studies estimate that the life-expectancy will increase by 4 years for men and 3 years for women.
However, the recent study conducted by the researchers at the Newcastle University showed that people will not live their ‘extra years’ in healthy conditions due to people’s bad eating habits, environmental factors, and stress. All these factors hugely contribute to the development of conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, obesity, and so on.
The NHS should change its approach
The study’s leader, Carol Jagger, considers that the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has to rethink its structures and resources to counteract the gloomy predictions.
On the other hand, multi-morbidity is considered one of the factors contributing to the actual NHS’s crisis, as multiple hospitalizations and high chances of diseases readmission in the multi-morbidity patients overload the NHS’s work.
Adults aged 65 to 74 are more prone to multi-morbidity
Jagger and her team also identified that adults of 65 to 74 years of age are more prone to develop multiple illnesses due to the lack of physical activity and the higher risk of obesity development.
The reactions
Age UK’s director, Caroline Abrahams, admitted that the study is clearly showing ‘the importance of getting our health and care services right for older people’.
NHS’s spokesman also reacted to the study. He said that NHS is obliged to raise more resources in order to better support the old people with multiple diseases.
