Multimorbidity patterns and the risk of falls among older adults: a community-based study in China.

BACKGROUND: Due to the high prevalence of multimorbidity and realistic health service demands for fall prevention, there is growing interest in the association between multimorbidity and falls. Our study aimed to identify multimorbidity patterns among Chinese older adults and explore the association between multimorbidity patterns and falls. METHODS: Data from 4,579 Chinese community-dwelling older adults was included in this analysis. Information regarding falls and 10 chronic conditions was collected. An exploratory factor analysis was performed to determine multimorbidity patterns. Regression models were fitted to explore the associations of individual chronic disease or multimorbidity patterns with falls. RESULTS: Among 4,579 participants, 368 (8.0%) were defined as fallers, including 92 (2.0%) frequent fallers, and multimorbidity affected 2,503 (54.7%) participants. Older adults with multimorbidity were more likely to be fallers [odds ratio (OR) = 1.3, P = 0.02] and frequent fallers (OR = 1.7, P = 0.04). Three multimorbidity patterns were identified (i.e., cardiovascular-metabolic diseases, psycho-cognitive diseases and organic diseases), and the associations between psycho-cognitive diseases/organic diseases and prevalent falls or frequent falls were found to be significant. CONCLUSIONS: The psycho-cognitive disease pattern and organic disease pattern are significantly associated with falls. Therefore, more attention should be paid to patients with psycho-cognitive diseases and timely, targeted diagnostic and treatment services should be provided in fall prevention.

The association between weight change patterns and obesity-related complex multimorbidity: evidence from NHANES.

Objective: Obesity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which has been the leading cause of death nowadays. The aim of this study is to examine the association between total changes in body mass index (BMI) across adulthood and the risk of obesity-related complex multimorbidity in elderly, characterizing the capacity of BMI waves in predicting major chronic diseases. Methods: In this retrospective study, 15,520 participants were analyzed from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 and 2018. BMI was categorized as obesity (≥30.0 kg/m²), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m²), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m²), and underweight (<18.5 kg/m²). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CIs) for the relationship between BMI change patterns and major health outcomes included hypertension, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, and population attributable fractions (PAFs) of BMI were evaluated. Results: In comparison with participants who remained non-obese, those who are stable obese showed the highest risks of developing at least one chronic disease in later life, with odds ratios of 2.76 (95% CI: 2.20 to 3.45) from age 25 years to 10 years before baseline, 2.90 (2.28 to 3.68) from age 25 years to baseline, and 2.49 (2.11 to 2.95) in the 10-year period before baseline. Moving from non-obese to obese weight-change pattern in all periods (from age 25 years to 10 years before baseline: OR = 1.82; 95% CI, 1.57 to 2.11; from age 25 years to baseline: OR = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.59 to 2.19; from 10 years before baseline to baseline: OR = 1.62; 95% CI, 1.26 to 2.08) and moving from obese to non-obese, the 10-year period before baseline (OR = 1.89; 95% CI, 1.39 to 2.57) was associated with increased risk of chronic diseases. Midlife obesity status can explain the 8.6% risk of occurrence of the chronic diseases in elderly. Conclusions: Maintaining a stable healthy weight and losing weight in early adulthood and midlife are important for better life quality during the aging process. More effective strategies and policies to reduce the prevalence of obesity are needed.

The Longitudinal Relationship between Edentulism and the Progress of Multimorbidity.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the longitudinal relationship between edentulism, nutritional intake, and the progress of multimorbidity among older Americans. METHODS: We used data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2018), a longitudinal survey of older Americans that has collected data biennially since 1992. Edentulism was assessed in 2006 while nutritional intake was assessed in 2013. Multimorbidity was indicated by five self-reported chronic conditions: diabetes, heart conditions, lung diseases, cancer, and stroke. Individuals with two or more conditions at baseline were excluded from the analysis. Nutritional intake was calculated by summing 10 nutrients (protein, vitamins C, D, B12 and E, calcium, zinc, polyunsaturated fatty acids, folate, and ß-carotene). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine the nutritional pathway between edentulism (2006) and the increase in multimorbidity from 2006 to 2018. RESULTS: The number of individuals included in the analysis was 3463. The incidence of multimorbidity between 2006 and 2018 was 24.07%, while the percentage of edentate participants in 2006 was 16.42%. The mean total nutrition in 2013 was 4.50 (4.43, 4.55). The SEM analysis showed that edentulism was negatively associated with nutritional intake {estimate -0.15 (95%CI: -0.30, -0.01)}. A negative association was found between total nutrition and multimorbidity {estimate -0.008 (95%CI: -0.01, -0.002)}. Age, wealth, and smoking were included in the analysis and had statistically significant associations with multimorbidity. CONCLUSION: The analysis demonstrated a longitudinal association between edentulism, nutritional intake, and the progress of multimorbidity.

An investigation on the prevalence and patterns of multi-morbidity among a group of slum-dwelling older women of Kolkata, India.

BACKGROUND: Multi-morbidity is a pervasive and growing issue worldwide. The prevalence of multi-morbidity varies across different populations and settings, but it is particularly common among older adults. It poses substantial physical, psychological, and socio-economic burdens on individuals, caregivers and healthcare systems. In this context, the present study aims to provide an insight on the prevalence and degree of multi-morbidity; and also, on the relationship between level of multi-morbidity and morbid conditions among a group of slum-dwelling older women. METHODS: This community based cross-sectional study was conducted in the slum areas of urban Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It includes total 500 older women, aged 60 years or above. Pre-tested schedules on so-demographic and morbidity profile have canvassed to obtain the information by door-to-door survey. To determine the relationship between the level of multi-morbidity and morbid conditions, correspondence analysis has performed. RESULTS: The study revealed three most prevalent morbid conditions- back and/or joint pain, dental caries/cavity and hypertension. The overall prevalence of multi-morbidity was 95.8% in this group of older women. It was highly over-represented by the oldest-old age group (80 years and above). Majority were found to suffer from five simultaneous morbid conditions that accounted for 15.2% of the total respondents. All of the oldest-old women of this study reported to suffer from more than two medical conditions simultaneously. Three distinct groups were formed based on the inter-relationship between level of multi-morbidity and morbid conditions. The group 1 and 2 represents only 27.8% and 18% of the total sample. Whereas, group 3 comprises the highest level of morbidities (≥ 6) and 52.8% of total sample, and strongly related with general debilities, cardiac problems, asthma/COPD, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal problems, neurological disorders, hypothyroidism and oral health issues. CONCLUSION: The findings confirmed the assertion that multi-morbidity in slum living older adults is a problem with high prevalence and complexity. This study proposes an easily replicable approach of understanding complex interaction of morbidities that can help further in identifying the healthcare needs of older adults to provide them with healthy and more productive life expectancy.

Multimorbidity and its Associated Factors in Korean Shift Workers: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity is a crucial factor that influences premature death rates, poor health, depression, quality of life, and use of health care. Approximately one-fifth of the global workforce is involved in shift work, which is associated with increased risk for several chronic diseases and multimorbidity. About 12% to 14% of wage workers in Korea are shift workers. However, the prevalence of multimorbidity and its associated factors in Korean shift workers are rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess multimorbidity prevalence, examine the factors associated with multimorbidity, and identify multimorbidity patterns among shift workers in Korea. METHODS: This study is a population-based cross-sectional study using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2016 to 2020. The study included 1704 (weighted n=2,697,228) Korean shift workers aged 19 years and older. Multimorbidity was defined as participants having 2 or more chronic diseases. Demographic and job-related variables, including regular work status, average working hours per week, and shift work type, as well as health behaviors, including BMI, smoking status, alcohol use, physical activity, and sleep duration, were included in the analysis. A survey-corrected logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing multimorbidity among the workers, and multimorbidity patterns were identified with a network analysis. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of multimorbidity was 13.7% (302/1704). Logistic regression indicated that age, income, regular work, and obesity were significant factors influencing multimorbidity. Network analysis results revealed that chronic diseases clustered into three groups: (1) cardiometabolic multimorbidity (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke), (2) musculoskeletal multimorbidity (arthritis and osteoporosis), and (3) unclassified diseases (depression, chronic liver disease, thyroid disease, asthma, cancer, and chronic kidney disease). CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed that several socioeconomic and behavioral factors were associated with multimorbidity among shift workers, indicating the need for policy development related to work schedule modification. Further organization-level screening and intervention programs are needed to prevent and manage multimorbidity among shift workers. We also recommend longitudinal studies to confirm the effects of job-related factors and health behaviors on multimorbidity among shift workers in the future.

Physical activity dynamically moderates the impact of multimorbidity on the trajectory of healthy aging over sixteen years.

BACKGROUND: Research examining the healthy aging trajectory of retired older adults with multimorbidity is limited, leaving uncertainties regarding the optimal physical activity (PA) intensity and frequency necessary to sustain healthy aging during retirement. METHODS: Our study investigated the moderating effects of PA on the healthy aging trajectories of retired older adults living with multimorbidity in the United States (US). We utilized data from 1,238 retired individuals aged 50 to 102 who contributed 11,142 observations over 16 years from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We employed mixed effects modeling to assess the impact of various classes of multimorbidity on this group and examine how different PA, PA intensities, and PA frequencies influence the disability, physical, and cognitive functioning domains of healthy aging. RESULTS: The results reveal that while outcomes differed significantly, retired older adults in the US attained healthy aging at baseline. However, their ability to maintain healthy aging declined over time, with multimorbidity, especially musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, accelerating this decline. Fortunately, PA, especially light to moderate intensities, is associated with improving healthy aging and moderating the impact of multimorbidity on the disability and cognitive functioning domains of healthy aging. However, the specific moderating effects of PA depend on its frequency, intensity, and chronic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The significant variability in healthy aging attainment among retired older adults underlies the need to consider these differences when addressing healthy aging issues in the US. Accounting for these variations would aid in evaluating the potential impact of future interventions and contribute to achieving health equity. Fortunately, our dynamic findings facilitate this objective by identifying specific frequencies and intensities of PA tailored to different aspects of multimorbidity and healthy aging. This highlights PA, especially light-to-moderate intensity, as an essential, cost-effective, and amenable strategy for alleviating the impact of multimorbidity on healthy aging.

What is the burden of multimorbidity and the factors associated with its occurrence in elderly Brazilians?

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity in elderly people and its association with sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, and anthropometry. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health Survey, 2019. A total of 22,728 elderly individuals from all 27 Brazilian states were randomly selected. Poisson regression models with robust variance were employed, and a significance level of 5% was adopted. RESULTS: The prevalence of multimorbidity was 51.6% (95% CI: 50.4-52.7), with the highest estimates observed in the South and Southeast. Multimorbidity was associated with being female (aPR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.27-1.39), being 80 years old or older (aPR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.05-1.19), having low education (aPR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.07-1.25), past cigarette use (aPR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.11-1.21), insufficient physical activity (aPR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06-1.21), and screen use for 3 hours or more per day (aPR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.08-1.18). CONCLUSION: Multimorbidity affects more than half of the elderly population in Brazil and is associated with social, demographic, and behavioral factors.

Regular source of primary care and health services utilisation among Brazilian elderly with mental-physical multimorbidity.

BACKGROUND: In ageing populations, multimorbidity is a complex challenge to health systems, especially when the individuals have both mental and physical morbidities. Although a regular source of primary care (RSPC) is associated with better health outcomes, its relation with health service utilisation in elderly patients with mental-physical multimorbidity (MP-MM) is scarce. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the relations among health service utilisation, presence of RSPC and MP-MM among elderly Brazilians. METHODS: A national cross-sectional study performed with data from national representative samples from the Brazilian National Health Research (PNS, in Portuguese; Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde) carried out in 2013 with 11,177 elderly Brazilian people. MP-MM was defined as the presence of two or more morbidities, including at least one mental morbidity, and was evaluated using a list of 16 physical and mental morbidities. The RSPC was analysed by the presence of regular font of care in primary care and health service utilisation according to the demand for health services ≤ 15 days, medical consultation ≤ 12 months, and hospitalisation ≤ 1 year. Frequency description of variables and bivariate association were performed using Stata v.15.2 software. RESULTS: The majority of individuals was female (56.4%), and their mean age was 69.8 years. The observed prevalence of MP-MM was 12.2%. Individuals with MP-MM had higher utilisation of health services when compared to those without MP-MM. RSPC was present at 36.5% and was higher in women (37.8% vs. 34.9%). There was a lower occurrence of hospitalisation ≤ 1 year among MP-MM individuals with RSPC and without a private plan of health. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that RSPC can be an important component of care in elderly individuals with MP-MM because it was associated with lower occurrence of hospitalisation, mainly in those that have not a private plan of health. Longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Trajectories of chronic multimorbidity patterns in older patients: MTOP study.

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity is associated with negative results and poses difficulties in clinical management. New methodological approaches are emerging based on the hypothesis that chronic conditions are non-randomly associated forming multimorbidity patterns. However, there are few longitudinal studies of these patterns, which could allow for better preventive strategies and healthcare planning. The objective of the MTOP (Multimorbidity Trajectories in Older Patients) study is to identify patterns of chronic multimorbidity in a cohort of older patients and their progression and trajectories in the previous 10 years. METHODS: A retrospective, observational study with a cohort of 3988 patients aged > 65 was conducted, including suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients in the reference area of Parc Taulí University Hospital. Real-world data on socio-demographic and diagnostic variables were retrieved. Multimorbidity patterns of chronic conditions were identified with fuzzy c-means cluster analysis. Trajectories of each patient were established along three time points (baseline, 5 years before, 10 years before). Descriptive statistics were performed together with a stratification by sex and age group. RESULTS: 3988 patients aged over 65 were included (58.9% females). Patients with ≥ 2 chronic conditions changed from 73.6 to 98.3% in the 10-year range of the study. Six clusters of chronic multimorbidity were identified 10 years before baseline, whereas five clusters were identified at both 5 years before and at baseline. Three clusters were consistently identified in all time points (Metabolic and vascular disease, Musculoskeletal and chronic pain syndrome, Unspecific); three clusters were only present at the earliest time point (Male-predominant diseases, Minor conditions and sensory impairment, Lipid metabolism disorders) and two clusters emerged 5 years before baseline and remained (Heart diseases and Neurocognitive). Sex and age stratification showed different distribution in cluster prevalence and trajectories. CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of older patients, we were able to identify multimorbidity patterns of chronic conditions and describe their individual trajectories in the previous 10 years. Our results suggest that taking these trajectories into consideration might improve decisions in clinical management and healthcare planning. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05717309.

Assessing the relationship between multimorbidity, NCD configurations, frailty phenotypes, and mortality risk in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Older adults are increasingly susceptible to prolonged illness, multiple chronic diseases, and disabilities, which can lead to the coexistence of multimorbidity and frailty. Multimorbidity may result in various noncommunicable disease (NCD) patterns or configurations that could be associated with frailty and death. Mortality risk may vary depending on the presence of specific chronic diseases configurations or frailty. METHODS: The aim was to examine the impact of NCD configurations on mortality risk among older adults with distinct frailty phenotypes. The population was analyzed from the Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study Cohort (CRELES). A total of 2,662 adults aged 60 or older were included and followed for 5 years. Exploratory factor analysis and various clustering techniques were utilized to identify NCD configurations. The frequency of NCD accumulation was also assessed for a multimorbidity definition. Frailty phenotypes were set according to Fried et al. criteria. Kaplan‒Meier survival analyses, mortality rates, and Cox proportional hazards models were estimated. RESULTS: Four different types of patterns were identified: 'Neuro-psychiatric', 'Metabolic', 'Cardiovascular', and 'Mixt' configurations. These configurations showed a higher mortality risk than the mere accumulation of NCDs [Cardiovascular HR:1.65 (1.07-2.57); 'Mixt' HR:1.49 (1.00-2.22); ≥3 NCDs HR:1.31 (1.09-1.58)]. Frailty exhibited a high and constant mortality risk, irrespective of the presence of any NCD configuration or multimorbidity definition. However, HRs decreased and lost statistical significance when phenotypes were considered in the Cox models [frailty + 'Cardiovascular' HR:1.56 (1.00-2.42); frailty + 'Mixt':1.42 (0.95-2.11); and frailty + ≥ 3 NCDs HR:1.23 (1.02-1.49)]. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty accompanying multimorbidity emerges as a more crucial indicator of mortality risk than multimorbidity alone. Therefore, studying NCD configurations is worthwhile as they may offer improved risk profiles for mortality as alternatives to straightforward counts.

Trends in the Prevalence of Multiple Chronic Conditions Among US Adults With Hypertension From 1999-2000 Through 2017-2020.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of many chronic conditions has increased among US adults. Many adults with hypertension have other chronic conditions. METHODS: We estimated changes in the age-adjusted prevalence of multiple (≥3) chronic conditions, not including hypertension, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, from 1999-2000 to 2017-2020, among US adults with (n = 24,851) and without (n = 24,337 hypertension. Hypertension included systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥130 mm Hg, diastolic BP ≥80 mm Hg, or antihypertensive medication use. We studied 14 chronic conditions: arthritis, asthma, cancer, coronary heart disease, chronic kidney disease, depression, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, heart failure, lung disease, obesity, and stroke. RESULTS: From 1999-2000 to 2017-2020, the age-adjusted mean number of chronic conditions increased more among US adults with vs. without hypertension (2.2 to 2.8 vs. 1.7 to 2.0; P-interaction <0.001). Also, the age-adjusted prevalence of multiple chronic conditions increased from 39.0% to 52.0% among US adults with hypertension and from 26.0% to 30.0% among US adults without hypertension (P-interaction = 0.022). In 2017-2020, after age, gender, and race/ethnicity adjustment, US adults with hypertension were 1.94 (95% confidence interval: 1.72-2.18) times as likely to have multiple chronic conditions compared to those without hypertension. In 2017-2020, dyslipidemia, obesity, and arthritis were the most common 3 co-occurring chronic conditions among US adults with and without hypertension (age-adjusted prevalence 16.5% and 3.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In 2017-2020, more than half of US adults with hypertension had ≥3 additional chronic conditions, a substantial increase from 20 years ago.

Diet Quality and Multimorbidity in Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The role of diet quality in the accumulation of multiple chronic conditions is mostly unknown. This study examined diet quality in association with the number of chronic conditions and the rate of multimorbidity development among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: We used data from 2 784 adults aged ≥65 years from the Seniors-ENRICA 2 cohort. Diet quality was assessed at baseline (2015-17) with the Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010) and the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Information on medical diagnoses was obtained from electronic clinical records up to 2021. RESULTS: Higher adherence to the AHEI-2010 was associated with a lower number of total chronic conditions (ß [95% CI] quartile 4 vs 1: -0.57 [-0.86 to 0.27], p trend < .001] and cardiometabolic conditions (-0.30 [-0.44 to -0.17], p trend < .001) at baseline, while higher adherence to the MEDAS was associated with a lower number of total chronic conditions (-0.30 [-0.58 to -0.02], p trend = .01) and neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions (-0.09 [-0.17 to -0.01], p trend = .01). After a median follow-up of 5.2 years (range: 0.1-6.1 years) higher adherence to the AHEI-2010 was associated with a lower increase in chronic conditions (ß [95% confidence interval] quartile 4 vs 1: -0.16 [-0.30 to -0.01], p trend = .04) and with lower rate of chronic disease accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: Higher diet quality, as measured by the AHEI-2010, was associated with a lower number of chronic health conditions and a lower rate of multimorbidity development over time.

Nuevos factores de riesgo cardiovascular en el adulto mayor / New cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly

Introducción: Se han explorado los posibles predictores no tradicionales de enfermedades cardiovasculares en personas mayores. Objetivo: Identificar los factores de riesgo no tradicionales de mortalidad por enfermedades cardiovasculares en adultos mayores. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio analítico de tipo casos y controles en pacientes adultos mayores pertenecientes a 3 áreas de salud del municipio Santiago de Cuba, durante el año 2021. Los casos fueron pacientes fallecidos por enfermedad cardiovascular de tipo ateroesclerótica y los controles, pacientes adultos mayores vivos, sin la enfermedad. Se determinó la razón de productos cruzados (OR), el intervalo de confianza (IC) y la prueba ji cuadrado para identificar los factores de riesgo que se asociaron a la mortalidad. Resultados: La fragilidad (OR= 3,380; IC: 2,476-4,615; p= 0,000) y el deterioro cognitivo (OR= 2,731; IC: 2,006-3,717; p= 0,000] mostraron asociación estadística muy significativa con la mortalidad; los pacientes con 3 o más factores de riesgo presentaron un mayor riesgo de mortalidad (OR= 4,683). Conclusiones: La fragilidad y la multimorbilidad son nuevos predictores de mortalidad por enfermedades cardiovasculares en adultos mayores, que cuando se asocian, implican mayor riesgo(AU)

Introduction: Possible non-traditional predictors of cardiovascular diseases in older people have been explored. Objective: Identify non-traditional risk factors predictive of mortality from cardiovascular diseases in older adults. Method: An analytical case-control study was carried out on older adult patients belonging to 3 health areas of the Santiago de Cuba municipality, during the year 2021. Cases: patients who died due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and controls, older adult patients alive, without the disease. The cross-product ratio (OR), the confidence interval (CI) and the chi-square test were determined to identify the factors that were associated with the onset of the disease. Results: Frailty (OR= 3.380; CI: 2.476-4.615; p= 0.000) and cognitive impairment (OR= 2.731; CI: 2.006-3.717; p= 0.000) showed a very significant statistical association with mortality; patients with 3 or more risk factors presented a higher risk of mortality (OR= 4.683). Conclusions: Frailty and multimorbidity are new predictors of mortality from cardiovascular diseases in older adults, which when associated imply greater risk(AU)

Multimorbidade em idosos de um município do nordeste brasileiro: prevalência e fatores associados / Multimorbity in elderly municipal of northeast Brazil: prevalence and associated factors / en ancianos de un municipio del nordeste brasileño: prevalencia y factores asociados

RESUMO Objetivo Estimar a prevalência e os fatores associados à presença de multimorbidade na população idosa do município de Ibicuí - BA. Métodos Estudo realizado com 310 idosos com idade > 60 anos, de ambos os sexos, residentes no município de Ibicuí - BA. Foram coletadas informações sociodemográ-ficas e informações pessoais, condições de vida, hábitos de vida, massa corporal, estatura e presença de multimorbidade. Utilizou-se análise descritiva e foram estimadas razões de prevalência de multimorbidade, segundo variáveis de interesse. Como medida de significância estatística foi utilizado o teste de Qui-quadrado de Pearson, adotando-se p≤0,05. A análise multivariada hierarquizada por Regressão de Poisson foi empregada após análise bivariada para seleção das variáveis independentes (p<0,20). Resultados A prevalência geral de multimorbidade foi de 80,3%. Na análise multivariada hierarquizada, apresentaram associação significativa, as variáveis sexo e renda mensal (p<0,05). Os resultados mostraram uma elevada prevalência de multimorbidade na população investigada e essa condição foi mais acentuada entre as mulheres e aqueles com menor nível económico. Conclusões Faz-se necessário redirecionar o planejamento das ações de saúde no município, com mudanças na política de atenção à saúde do idoso e, principalmente, nas redes de suporte social que amparam esses indivíduos, uma vez que, nesta localidade, a presença de multimorbidade esteve relacionada a questões socioeconómicas.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective To estimate the prevalence and the factors associated with the presence of multimorbidity in the elderly population of the municipality of Ibicuí - BA. Methods This study was carried out with 310 elderly individuals, aged > 60 years old, of both sexes, living in the municipality of Ibicuí - BA. Sociodemographic information and personal information, living conditions, life habits, body mass, stature and presence of multimorbidity were collected. The descriptive analysis was used and multimorbidity prevalence ratios were estimated according to variables of interest. As a measure of statistical significance, the qui-quadrado de Pearson test was used, adopting p≤0.05. The multivariate analysis hierarchized by Poisson regression was employed after bivariate analysis to select the independent variables (p<0.20). Results The general prevalence of multimorbidity was 80.3%. The hierarchical multi-varied analysis showed the variables of gender and monthly income (p<1.5) were significantly related to the problem. The results reveal also a high prevalence of multimorbidity in the studied population. Mainly women and the poorest suffer from it. Conclusions It is necessary to redirect the planning of health actions in the municipality, with changes in the health care policy of the elderly, and especially in the social support networks that support these individuals, considering that in this locality the presence of multimorbidity was related to socio-economic grounds.(AU)

RESUMEN Objetivo Estimar la prevalencia y los factores asociados a la presencia de multimorbilidad en la población anciana del municipio de Ibicuí - BA. Métodos Estudio realizado con 310 ancianos con edad > 60 años, de ambos sexos, residentes en el municipio de Ibicuí-BA. Se recigió información sociodemográfica y personales, condiciones de vida, hábitos de vida, masa corporal, estatura y presencia de multimorbilidad. Se utilizó análisis descriptivo y se estimaron razones de prevalencia de multimorbilidad, según variables de interés. Como medida de significancia estadística se utilizó la prueba de Qui-cuadrado de Pearson, adoptando p≤0,05. El análisis multivariado jerarquizado por Regresión de Poisson fue empleada después del análisis bivariado para la selección de las variables independientes (p<0,20). Resultados La prevalencia general de multimorbilidad fue del 80,3%. En el análisis multivariado jerarquizado, presentaron asociación significativa las variables de sexo y renta mensual (p <0,05). Los resultados mostraron una elevada prevalencia de multimorbilidad en la población investigada y esa condición fue más acentuada entre las mujeres y aquellos con menor nivel económico. Conclusiones En ese sentido, se hace necesario reorientar la planificación de las acciones de salud en el municipio, con cambios en la política de atención a la salud del anciano y, principalmente, en las redes de soporte social que amparan a esos individuos, ya que, en esta localidad, la presencia de multimorbilidades estuvo relacionada con cuestiones socioeconómicas.(AU)

Identifying optimal treatment approaches for people with multimorbidity in Ontario

Multimorbidity is part of the daily life of a growing number of Ontarians who must manage multiple chronic conditions. As Fortin et al. observed, "patients with multiple conditions are the rule rather than the exception in primary care." Multimorbidity not only has a significant impact on healthcare utilization and costs, but it is expected to affect quality of life, ability to work, employability, disability, process of care and mortality.(3) Despite the burden of multimorbidity, patients often receive care that is "fragmented, incomplete, inefficient, and ineffective."(3) Thus, there have been growing calls for changes to health systems and clinical decision-making processes to more effectively and efficiently provide the complex care required by those with multimorbidity.

Issue brief: designing integrated approaches to support people with multimorbidity in Ontario

Managing multiple medical conditions is part of the daily life of a growing number of Ontarians. As Fortin et al. observed, "patients with multiple conditions are the rule rather than the exception in primary care."(2) Multimorbidity (living with three or more medical conditions) has attracted significant attention among health system policymakers and stakeholders in Ontario, in part because adults with multimorbidity account for more than two-thirds of healthcare costs.(3) Multimorbidity not only has a significant impact on healthcare utilization and costs, but affects quality of life, ability to work, employability, disability, processes of care and mortality.(4) Despite the burden of multimorbidity, patients often receive care that is "fragmented, incomplete, inefficient, and ineffective."(4) Thus, there have been growing calls for changes to health systems and clinical decision-making processes to more effectively and efficiently provide the complex care required by those with multimorbidity.(5;6) One such response in Ontario has been Health Links, which was launched in December 2012 and now includes 26 'early adopters'. Health Links are designed to support local patient-care networks, led by a coordinating partner, and attempt to coordinate and optimize access to needed services, initially with a particular focus on the 5% of patients who consume about 66% of healthcare costs.(3;7) However, primary care, community care and other providers, whether working as part of or separate from Health Links, need support to achieve measurable successes in caring for patients with multimorbidity and preventing multimorbidity in those at risk, and to achieve health system transformation more broadly for this patient group.