Multimorbidity and Pregnancy

Chronic conditions like diabetes and depression affect half the adult population. Multimorbidity, or the co-occurrence of multiple chronic conditions in an individual, is a growing public health issue. Traditionally considered a problem of aging, multimorbidity is now common even in younger people, with 18% of reproductive-aged females having two or more chronic conditions. We are using health records data for the entire population of Ontario to study the risks of pregnancy complications in birthing people with multimorbidity, and in-depth interviews with birthing people with multimorbidity and service-providers to understand their pregnancy care experiences. Our data will inform the development of person-centred, interdisciplinary health care services that address the full range of needs of birthing people with multimorbidity and their newborns.