Health Care

Comorbidity

The presence of co-existing or additional diseases with reference to an initial diagnosis or with reference to the index condition that is the subject of study. Comorbidity may affect the ability of affected individuals to function and also their survival; it may be used as a prognostic indicator for length of hospital stay, cost factors, and outcome or survival.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The presence of co-existing or additional diseases with reference to an initial diagnosis or with reference to the index condition that is the subject of study. Comorbidity may affect the ability of affected individuals to function and also their survival; it may be used as a prognostic indicator for length of hospital stay, cost factors, and outcome or survival.

MeSH Record

Classification

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MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

1 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings trends.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

"presence of co-existing or additional diseases" in epidemiologic studies: do not confuse with /compl; IM general only; coordinate NIM with each disease /epidemiol (IM), not /compl; specify geographic term if pertinent

MeSH Record

History Note

90

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Diagnosis Related Groups (1986-1989)
  • Length of Stay (1986-1989)
  • specific disease/complications (1977-1989)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. N05.715w.350.225w
  2. N06.850w.490.687w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Comorbidity. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D015897. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D015897
  2. Comorbidity. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comorbidity
  3. Comorbidity. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1414874