Mount Sinai Publishes New Research Highlighting Novel Method to Identify Patterns Among Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions

A new study made possible through Teva’s partnership with Mount Sinai’s Arnhold Institute for Global Health offers a novel method for identifying patterns in the frequency and cost of multiple chronic conditions (MCC), the presence of two or more chronic conditions in one individual.

The study, published in BMJ Open by Mount Sinai researchers, examines 190,000 patients with Medicaid insurance in New York City between 2012 and 2014. The results show 61.5% of those patients have MCC. Using this new method, researchers found high blood pressure and high cholesterol were the most common pair of conditions among these patients, and with the addition of diabetes, these made up the most common combination of three conditions. The results also shed light on several unexpected disease clusters, including lung disease and heart attack, which could inform new approaches for managing conditions. 

“This helps us develop primary care programs with our partners to treat patients with MCC,” said Usnish Majumdar, the study’s lead author and fourth-year medical student at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine. “It also provides an analytical method for health systems worldwide to track chronic condition patterns in their own settings—and design interventions to address their local needs.” 

This is a second peer-reviewed publication since our partnership with Mount Sinai began three years ago to elevate MCC on the global public health agenda. These efforts are central to Teva’s commitment to help address the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, the challenges and burden of chronic diseases, which is the leading cause of death and disability in the US and globally. 

“These findings are another indication that our work is elevating MCC on the global public health agenda,” said Amalia Adler-Waxman, VP of Social Impact & Responsibility. “We’ve heard from patients directly how hard it is to live with multiple chronic conditions. One patient told us that with each new chronic condition, there is an emotional roller coaster for yourself and your family. We also heard a patient say there are days when they feel less of a person because of the conditions. With one in three adults globally having more than one chronic condition, we want to find ways to help these patients, and this is made possible through our partnership with Mount Sinai’s Arnhold Institute for Global Health. We are motivated by our progress and optimistic that we can make a positive impact on the lives of patients.” 

Our efforts to address MCC also include piloting a behavior change program for patients in partnership with Mount Sinai, convening global public health experts to drive thought leadership, including at the 2019 NHS Health and Care Innovation Expo, 72nd World Health Assembly and NCD Café at the 2019 European Society of Cardiology Congress. 

Teva and Mount Sinai joined forces in 2017 to advance understanding and treatment of MCC—and we continue to expand this critical work. To learn more about these efforts and our progress with Mount Sinai, visit social_impact/mccs.