• Filipe Prazeres, Luiz M Santiago, and José A Simões.
• Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.
• Arch Med Sci. 2022 Jan 1; 18 (6): 149815041498-1504.

IntroductionGiven the number of patients with mental conditions who receive treatment within the primary care (PC) context, and the high prevalence of multimorbidity (especially in older people), there is a need to study mental-physical multimorbidity (MPM) in this population and context. This study sought to identify the impact on health-related quality of life (QoL) of MPM in adults aged 60 years and older.Material And MethodsSecondary analysis of data derived from 251 primary health individuals. Data were collected via a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire. Health-related QoL was assessed using the SF-12 instrument. Multiple linear regressions were performed for physical and mental health in MPM patients and in patients with physical-only multimorbidity.ResultsMean age of participants was 70.6 years; 57.8% were female. Quality of life was lower in MPM patients than in those with physical-only multimorbidity. Regarding MPM patients, female sex, 75 years and over, and low income were associated with worse physical health. Female sex was also associated with worse mental health.ConclusionsThis study contributes to the global knowledge of MPM in older people, illuminates health-related QoL differences among MPM and physical-only multimorbidity patients, and highlights the importance of non-modifiable characteristics associated with deterioration of health-related QoL. Team collaboration between primary care physicians, psychiatrists (and other mental health providers), and social workers may be necessary to assess psychiatric and physical symptoms and provide for the care needs of older people with MPM.Copyright: © 2020 Termedia & Banach.

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