The article presents an overview of data on polymorbidity. It is shown that polymorbidity is associated with higher mortality, disability, side effects of treatment, increased use of health system resources, and also with a lower quality of life. The issues of effective treatment of people with multiple chronic diseases are discussed. The necessity of clinical trials, including patients with multiple chronic diseases, and the development of new clinical recommendations, which could be based on practical doctors in the treatment of polymorbid patients, are substantiated.
Keywords: polymorbidity, comorbidity, polypharmacy, drug interaction, therapeutic competition, prescription, Ariadne principle.