Living with a Multimorbidity. A Qualitative Study on the Personal Perspectives of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease, 2023-2024

Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease frequently co-exist as multimorbid conditions, posing challenges to patients’ self-management and quality of life. However, studies aimed at understanding the complexity of living with these two conditions is scarce. Thus, this study addresses this knowledge gap by qualitatively exploring the perceptions of this patient group. Twenty-seven participants with T2D and atherosclerotic CVDs were interviewed individually and analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Three core themes and seven sub themes were generated during analysis: first, patient perception of conditions, second, lack of integrated care and third, psychological impacts of living with multimorbidity. Participants highlighted a lack of understanding relating to the bidirectional relationship between the conditions and believed CVD to be more threatening primarily due to visibility of symptoms. Participants also shared that they faced varying level of emotional distress related to their T2D and CVD, with socioeconomic factors impacting their ability to manage their multimorbidity. This challenge was further exacerbated by what they perceived as poorly integrated care from healthcare professionals. This study highlights the importance of exploring patient perspectives to inform more of a cohesive care model that moves away from singular disease-based management for those living with T2D and CVD as a multimorbidity.