Final answer:
The presence of co-existing additional diseases with reference to an initial diagnosis defines comorbidity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The presence of co-existing additional diseases with reference to an initial diagnosis defines comorbidity.
Comorbidity refers to the simultaneous occurrence of two or more medical conditions in a patient. These conditions can either exacerbate or arise as a result of the primary diagnosis. For example, a patient diagnosed with diabetes may also have comorbid conditions such as high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease.
References:
Al-Asadi, A. M., Klein, B., & Meyer, D. (2015). Multiple comorbidities of psychological disorders and relationships with psychosocial variables: A study of the online assessment and diagnostic system within a web-based population. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(2), e55.