Sandeep Kishore, MD, PhD
The Arnhold Institute for Global Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has partnered with the drug company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to address the increasing incidence of multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) among adults worldwide, an issue tied to decreased quality of life and rising health care costs.
Mount Sinai and Teva announced the collaboration at the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit in New York City last fall. At the event, Teva introduced data showing that globally one in three adults, and two in three adults over the age of 65, have MCCs—defined as having two or more chronic conditions, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, asthma, obesity, substance use disorders, and anxiety. The study showed that in the United States, patients with MCCs account for more than 70 percent of total health care spending, and that health care costs almost double with each additional chronic condition. The study also showed that MCCs greatly reduce a patient’s ability to comply with medication, increase the likelihood of depressive symptoms, and increase the burden of care placed upon families and health facilities.
Under the leadership of Sandeep Kishore, MD, PhD, Associate Director at The Arnhold Institute for Global Health, Mount Sinai will work with Teva to research innovative primary care models that coordinate treatment of different conditions across providers, using behavioral economics to simplify medication adherence. Mount Sinai also will help advance technology-based solutions such as apps to monitor and manage symptoms and side effects. Initially, patients will be drawn from Mount Sinai’s outpatient Peak Health program, which assigns teams of physicians, nurses, social workers, and coordinators to care for people with MCCs.