Multiple factors go into the development and progression of multimorbidity — having two or more chronic diseases — in older adults. Higher levels of multimorbidity are associated with sociodemographic characteristics, which could be a possible way to interrupt the process and improve individuals’ health, a new study finds.
The report, which was published Sept. 20 in BMC Geriatrics, examined the variabilities that affect multimorbidity, such as age, race and socioeconomic status.
A team analyzed Medicare-linked Health and Retirement Study data on people who had three or more years of coverage. In total, there were 17,199 participants who were over the age of 65, and the data spanned over 24 years. The researchers honed in on 21 chronic diseases such as hypertension, osteoporosis, asthma, cancer, HIV, depression, and substance abuse.
Of those studied, 78.8% were white, 13.4% were Black, 6.1% were Hispanic, and 1.7% identified as other race/ethnicity. Hispanic beneficiaries comprised 9.8% and Black beneficiaries 16.3% of the high multimorbidity group, while white people made up 81.5% of people with no multimorbidity group.
At the start of the evaluation, 51.2% of patients had no multimorbidity, 36.5% had multimorbidity and 12.4% (2,129) had high multimorbidity (more than five chronic diseases) at first observation. By the end, 8.8% had no multimorbidity, 25.5% had multimorbidity and 65.5% had high multimorbidity.
Loss of function, cognitive decline and higher healthcare utilization were up to 10 times more prevalent in the participants with high multimorbidity group. Greater rates of high multimorbidity were seen in non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic groups, those with lower wealth, younger birth cohorts, and adults with obesity. The rates of transitioning to high multimorbidity varied greatly based on various factors, but was highest among Hispanic individuals and those with lower education, the data showed.
