Multimorbidity Management: A Scoping Review of Interventions and Health Outcomes

Kagiso P. Seakamela (), Reneilwe G. Mashaba, Cairo B. Ntimana, Chodziwadziwa W. Kabudula and Tholene Sodi
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Kagiso P. Seakamela: Department of Pathology and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa
Reneilwe G. Mashaba: Dikgale Mamabolo Mothiba (DIMAMO) Population Health Research Centre, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa
Cairo B. Ntimana: Department of Pathology and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa
Chodziwadziwa W. Kabudula: MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Tholene Sodi: Department of Psychology, University of Limpopo, P/Bag X1106, Sovenga, Polokwane 0727, South Africa

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: Multimorbidity, defined as the co-occurrence of two or more chronic conditions in an individual, has emerged as a worldwide public health concern contributing to mortality and morbidity. This complex health phenomenon is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, particularly as populations continue to age. Despite the growing burden of multimorbidity, the development and implementation of interventions published by scholars are still in their early stages with significant variability in strategies and outcomes. The variability in strategy and outcome may result from factors such as lack of infrastructure, socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors. The review aims to synthesize interventions designed to manage and mitigate multimorbidity and explore a range of approaches, including pharmacological treatments, lifestyle modifications, care coordination models, and technological innovations. The scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist. It included 1,553,877 individuals with multimorbidity with no age restriction; in the studies that included gender difference, 463,339 male participants and 1,091,538 female participants were involved. Multimorbidity interventions were defined as strategies or programs designed to manage and improve the health and quality of life of individuals with multiple chronic conditions. Of the downloaded articles, those that met the inclusion criteria were published between 2012 and 2024. The final analysis included 100 articles from 3119 published articles, which resulted in 9 themes and 15 subthemes. Themes on the need for lifestyle and behavioural interventions, patient empowerment and engagement, multimorbidity management, health integration, pharmacotherapy optimization, community and policy interventions, healthcare system improvements, technology and digital health, as well as research and evidence-based practice interventions, emerged. The reviewed literature emphasizes the necessity of multidisciplinary approaches to effectively combat the growing public health challenge of multimorbidity.

Keywords: multimorbidity; interventions; multidisciplinary approaches; outcomes; management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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