Comorbidity and Type 2 Diabetes : prevalence, type and impact on cost and health-related behaviours

Abstract

Comorbidity is the co-existence of one or more additional conditions in patients with a specified medical condition. It is highly prevalent in patients with diabetes and may be related (concordant) or unrelated (discordant) to diabetes. Few studies in Ireland have investigated the presence or impact comorbidity in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). International studies have shown that the presence of comorbidity in patients with diabetes has negative implications in terms of the patient, economy, and society. Until recently however, the majority of these studies focused, only, on the presence and/or impact of concordant comorbidity.