Managing several chronic conditions 'nearly impossible'

Managing multiple chronic conditions can prove difficult for most people and long-term, sustained success is rare, according to new research.

Worryingly, researchers believe the medical profession has only just started to understand the reasons for this.

A study carried out by the Kaiser Permanente Institute for Health Research found that only 16.2 per cent of individuals at Denver Health were able to control diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol at the same time.

Lead author of the study, Emily Schroeder, explained: "This research tells us to look more closely at how certain patients are able to control their multiple conditions, so clinicians can help patients recover and avoid greater risks of developing other ailments."

Having multiple chronic conditions is quite common, so its difficult to treat these problems in isolation.

Researchers believe strong relationships with primary care providers are crucial for managing all three, alongside good diet, exercise regimes and simplified medicine schedules.

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