Measuring Comorbidity in Cardiovascular Research: A Systematic Review. (17th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Buck, Harleah G.; Akbar, Jabar A.; Zhang, Sarah Jingying; Bettger, Janet A. Prvu
• Other Names: Dickson Victoria Vaughan Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Nursing research and practice. Volume 2013(2013)
• Publication Date: 2013-07-17
• Subjects: Nursing -- Research -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Evidence-based nursing -- Periodicals; 610.73072
• DOI: 10.1155/2013/563246
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-1429

Abstract

Abstract : Background . Everything known about the roles, relationships, and repercussions of comorbidity in cardiovascular disease is shaped by how comorbidity is currently measured. Objectives . To critically examine how comorbidity is measured in randomized controlled trials or clinical trials and prospective observational studies in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), or stroke. Design . Systematic review of studies of hospitalized adults from MEDLINE CINAHL, PsychINFO, and ISI Web of Science Social Science databases. At least two reviewers screened and extracted all data. Results . From 1432 reviewed abstracts, 26 studies were included (AMI n = 8, HF n = 11, stroke n = 7 ). Five studies used an instrument to measure comorbidity while the remaining used the presence or absence of an unsubstantiated list of individual diseases. Comorbidity data were obtained from 1–4 different sources with 35% of studies not reporting the source. A year-by-year analysis showed no changes in measurement. Conclusions . The measurement of comorbidity remains limited to a list of conditions without stated rationale or standards increasing the likelihood that the true impact is underestimated.