Multimorbidity Patterns, Health Services Use, and Correlates in Individuals with Mental Conditions

Abstract Managing multimorbidity in individuals with mental disorders presents both a clinical and health service management challenge. This study aims to identify and characterize patterns of physical multimorbidity in individuals with mental disorders. The sample consisted of 200,630 individuals with multimorbidity and at least one mental disorder, derived from clinical records in the province of Cádiz, Spain. Latent class analysis identified eight patterns of chronic multimorbidity, detailing their clinical and social aspects. By characterizing and interpreting these patterns, the study contributes to a better understanding of how mental and physical multimorbidity cluster and interact with health service use and social context, helping to identify weaknesses in health service delivery and management.