People in the most deprived areas in England can expect to have two or more health conditions at 61 years, which is 10 years earlier than people in the least deprived areas, according to research carried out by the Health Foundation.
The analysis finds that approximately 14.2 million people have two or more conditions, which represents 24% of all adults living in England. Over half of hospital admissions and outpatient visits and 75% of primary care prescriptions are for people living with two or more conditions.
The number of people living with multiple conditions is expected to continue to grow. The Health Foundation’s analysis projects that this will lead to an increase in total hospital activity by 14%, at a cost of £4bn, over the next five years. A sustainable NHS will need to improve both the quality and cost effectiveness of care for people with multiple conditions.