comorbidity
koh-mor-BIH-dih-tee
/ˌkoʊmɔːrˈbɪdɪti/
The simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient.
Often used to explain why treating one condition (like obesity) is complicated by another (like heart disease).
The story behind the word. The word 'comorbidity' is a relatively modern medical term, appearing in the 1970s. It joins the prefix 'co-' (together) with 'morbidity' (from 'morbus', the Latin word for sickness). It was coined to help doctors describe patients who weren't just suffering from one thing, but a 'togetherness of sickness.'
Word relationships
- co-occurrence: A more general term that can apply to events, whereas comorbidity is strictly medical.
Commonly confused with
- morbidity: Morbidity refers to the state of being diseased; comorbidity is having two or more at once.
Word family
- comorbid (adjective): Present at the same time as another condition.
Collocations
- multiple comorbidities
- common comorbidity
- comorbidity index
- psychiatric comorbidity
Example sentences
- "The study examined the comorbidity of obesity and clinical depression." Clinical research paper.
- "Management of the patient's diabetes was complicated by several comorbidities." Hospital discharge summary.
Memory hook
'Co' (Together) + 'Morbidity' (Sickly) = Sick together. Comorbidity: Conditions coming together.
When not to use
Avoid in casual settings where 'multiple health problems' is clearer.
Fun facts
- The term was first popularized by epidemiologist Alvan Feinstein to describe how multiple diseases interact within a single person.
Related words
Explore more words
concurrent, morbidity, coexistence, concurrence, simultaneous, diagnosis
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