Some aspects of comorbidity in hospitalized patients of a therapeutic hospital

Objective - to analyze the risk factors (RF) of noncommunicable diseases depending on the comorbidity index (CI) in hospitalized patients. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was performed at the Altai Regional Hospital for War Veterans. 128 people were invited to take part in the study during the month in the therapeutic department, 100 people agreed (78.1% response). The average age is 77.9±8.3 years, 48% of women, 52% of men. A general clinical examination, RF analysis of noncommunicable diseases, psychosocial factors, Montreal Cognitive Function Scale (MoCA test), and an examination by a neurologist to detect encephalopathy were performed. Based on the Charlson CI data, patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1 - CI 1-2 points - 46%, group 2 - CI 3-4 points - 38%, group 3 - CI 5 and more points - 16%. Results. Regardless of gender, CI 5 or more was more common than CI 1-2 by 16.8%; among men, CI 5 and more occurred more often than CI 3-4 by 17.8%; middle-aged persons were only in the group with CI 1-2. In patients with CI 5 or more, compared with patients with CI 1-2, there was a higher frequency of such RFs as obesity (by 29.9%, all persons with CI 5 or more had abdominal obesity), social isolation (by 29.7%), type D personality (by 36.5%), as well as cognitive impairment (by 28.5%) and encephalopathy (by 32.9%). Depression was found 26.1% more often in patients with CI 3-4 than in patients with CI 1-2. Conclusion. Comorbidity is not a mandatory condition characteristic of an aging population, it is primarily the result of individual behavior. Therefore, the identification and correction of RF of noncommunicable diseases, especially in conditions of comorbidity, seems to be an urgent task, which determines the success of treatment in this category of patients.