Table 2.

Themes and sub-themes comprising the fundamental structure of the multimorbidity experience.

Themes	Sub-themes
Impression of premature aging	Chronic diseases symbolizing old age
	Lived experience linked to the loss of physical and social abilities
Unique nature of the experience of multimorbidity	Caught in the sequence of several concomitant diseases
	Multiple interactions: disease–disease; treatment–disease; treatment–treatment
	Diseases experienced differently depending on the presence or absence of pain
Complex management of multimorbidity	Daily burden of multimorbidity
	Difficulties with access to the healthcare system
	Need for support in treatment follow-up
Psychological burden	Negative emotional impacts
	Uncertainty and anticipation related to the fluctuations in health status
Ownership of multimorbidity	Day-to-day adjustment to health problems
	Benefits of self-care