Interrelationships between physical multimorbidity, depressive symptoms and cognitive function among older adults in China, India and Indonesia: A four-way decomposition analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This paper explores the role of depressive symptoms (mediator/moderator) in the association between physical multimorbidity (exposure) and cognitive function (outcome) among older adults in the three most populous middle-income countries. METHODS: This study used cross-sectional data from China (2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study), India (2017/2018 Longitudinal Ageing Study in India), and Indonesia (2014/2015 Indonesian Family Life Survey), with a total sample of 73,199 respondents aged ≥ 45 years. Three domains of cognitive tests were harmonised across surveys, including time orientation, word recall, and numeracy. The four-way decomposition analysis assessed the mediation and interaction effects between exposure, mediator/moderator, and outcome, adjusted for covariates. RESULTS: The mean age of the respondents (in years) was slightly younger in Indonesia (56.0, SD = 8.8) than in China (59.5, SD = 9.3) and India (60.0, SD = 10.5). The proportion of male respondents was 49.3 % in China, 47.3 % in India, and 47.5 % in Indonesia. Respondents in China had the highest mean cognitive function z scores (54.7, SD = 19.9), followed by India (51.1, SD = 20.0) and Indonesia (51.0, SD = 18.4). Physical multimorbidity was associated with lower cognitive function in China and India (p < 0.0001), with 48.4 % and 40.0 % of the association explained by the mediating effect of depressive symptoms ('overall proportion due to mediation'). The association was not found in Indonesia. CONCLUSION: Cognitive functions were lower among individuals with physical multimorbidity, and depressive symptoms mainly explained the association. Addressing depressive symptoms among persons with physical multimorbidity is likely to have not only an impact on their mental health but could prevent cognitive decline.

The moderating effect of mental health and health insurance ownership on the relationships between physical multimorbidity and healthcare utilisation and catastrophic health expenditure in India.

BACKGROUND: The current demographic transition has resulted in the growth of the older population in India, a population group which has a higher chance of being affected by multimorbidity and its subsequent healthcare and economic consequences. However, little attention has been paid to the dual effect of mental health conditions and physical multimorbidity in India. The present study, therefore, aimed to analyse the moderating effects of mental health and health insurance ownership in the association between physical multimorbidity and healthcare utilisation and catastrophic health expenditure (CHE). METHODS: We analysed the Longitudinal Aging Study in India, wave 1 (2017-2018). We determined physical multimorbidity by assessing the number of physical conditions. We built multivariable logistic regression models to determine the moderating effect of mental health and health insurance ownership in the association between the number of physical conditions and healthcare utilisation and CHE. Wald tests were used to evaluate if the estimated effects differ across groups defined by the moderating variables. RESULTS: Overall, around one-quarter of adults aged 45 and above had physical multimorbidity, one-third had a mental health condition and 20.5% owned health insurance. Irrespective of having a mental condition and health insurance, physical multimorbidity was associated with increased utilisation of healthcare and CHE. Having an additional mental condition strengthened the adverse effect of physical multimorbidity on increased inpatient service use and experience of CHE. Having health insurance, on the other hand, attenuated the effect of experiencing CHE, indicating a protective effect. CONCLUSIONS: The coexistence of mental health conditions in people with physical multimorbidity increases the demands of healthcare service utilisation and can lead to CHE. The findings point to the need for multidisciplinary interventions for individuals with physical multimorbidity, ensuring their mental health needs are also addressed. Our results urge enhancing health insurance schemes for individuals with mental and physical multimorbidity.

Impact of health risk factors on healthcare resource utilization, work-related outcomes and health-related quality of life of Australians: a population-based longitudinal data analysis.

Background: Health risk factors, including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, overweight, obesity, and insufficient physical activity, are major contributors to many poor health conditions. This study aimed to assess the impact of health risk factors on healthcare resource utilization, work-related outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Australia. Methods: We used two waves of the nationally representative Household, Income, and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey from 2013 and 2017 for the analysis. Healthcare resource utilization included outpatient visits, hospitalisations, and prescribed medication use. Work-related outcomes were assessed through employment status and sick leave. HRQoL was assessed using the SF-6D scores. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) with logit or log link function and random-effects regression models were used to analyse the longitudinal data on the relationship between health risk factors and the outcomes. The models were adjusted for age, sex, marital status, education background, employment status, equilibrium household income, residential area, country of birth, indigenous status, and socio-economic status. Results: After adjusting for all other health risk factors covariates, physical inactivity had the greatest impact on healthcare resource utilization, work-related outcomes, and HRQoL. Physical inactivity increased the likelihood of outpatient visits (AOR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.45, 1.76 p < 0.001), hospitalization (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.66-2.01, p < 0.001), and the probability of taking sick leave (AOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.21-1.41, p < 0.001), and decreased the odds of having an above population median HRQoL (AOR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.45-0.51, p < 0.001) after adjusting for all other health risk factors and covariates. Obesity had the greatest impact on medication use (AOR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.97-2.29, p < 0.001) after adjusting for all other health risk factors and covariates. Conclusion: Our study contributed to the growing body of literature on the relative impact of health risk factors for healthcare resource utilization, work-related outcomes and HRQoL. Our results suggested that public health interventions aim at improving these risk factors, particularly physical inactivity and obesity, can offer substantial benefits, not only for healthcare resource utilization but also for productivity.

Prevalence of unmet health care need in older adults in 83 countries: measuring progressing towards universal health coverage in the context of global population ageing.

Current measures for monitoring progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) do not adequately account for populations that do not have the same level of access to quality care services and/or financial protection to cover health expenses for when care is accessed. This gap in accounting for unmet health care needs may contribute to underutilization of needed services or widening inequalities. Asking people whether or not their needs for health care have been met, as part of a household survey, is a pragmatic way of capturing this information. This analysis examined responses to self-reported questions about unmet need asked as part of 17 health, social and economic surveys conducted between 2001 and 2019, representing 83 low-, middle- and high-income countries. Noting the large variation in questions and response categories, the results point to low levels (less than 2%) of unmet need reported in adults aged 60+ years in countries like Andorra, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Thailand and Viet Nam to rates of over 50% in Georgia, Haiti, Morocco, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe. While unique, these estimates are likely underestimates, and do not begin to address issues of poor quality of care as a barrier or contributing to unmet need in those who were able to access care. Monitoring progress towards UHC will need to incorporate estimates of unmet need if we are to reach universality and reduce health inequalities in older populations.

Functional limitation as a mediator of the relationship between multimorbidity on health-related quality of life in Australia: evidence from a national panel mediation analysis.

Objective: The inverse relationships between chronic disease multimorbidity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) have been well-documented in the literature. However, the mechanism underlying this relationship remains largely unknown. This is the first study to look into the potential role of functional limitation as a mediator in the relationship between multimorbidity and HRQoL. Methods: This study utilized three recent waves of nationally representative longitudinal Household, Income, and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) surveys from 2009 to 2017 (n = 6,814). A panel mediation analysis was performed to assess the role of functional limitation as a mediator in the relationship between multimorbidity and HRQoL. The natural direct effect (NDE), indirect effect (NIE), marginal total effect (MTE), and percentage mediated were used to calculate the levels of the mediation effect. Results: This study found that functional limitation is a significant mediator in the relationship between multimorbidity and HRQoL. In the logistic regression analysis, the negative impact of multimorbidity on HRQoL was reduced after functional limitation was included in the regression model. In the panel mediation analysis, our results suggested that functional limitation mediated ~27.2% (p < 0.05) of the link between multimorbidity and the composite SF-36 score for HRQoL. Functional limitation also mediated the relationship between the number of chronic conditions and HRQoL for each of the eight SF-36 dimensions, with a proportion mediated ranging from 18.4 to 28.8% (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Functional status has a significant impact on HRQoL in multimorbid patients. Treatment should concentrate on interventions that improve patients' functioning and mitigate the negative effects of multimorbidity.

The effect of health insurance and socioeconomic status on women's choice in birth attendant and place of delivery across regions in Indonesia: a multinomial logit analysis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that women gave birth in diverse types of health facilities and were assisted by various types of health providers. This study examines how these choices are influenced by the Indonesia national health insurance programme (Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN)), which aimed to provide equitable access to health services, including maternal health. METHODS: Using multinomial logit regression models, we examined patterns and determinants of women's choice for childbirth, focusing on health insurance coverage, geographical location and socioeconomic disparities. We used the 2018 nationally representative household survey dataset consisting of 41 460 women (15-49 years) with a recent live birth. RESULTS: JKN coverage was associated with increased use of higher-level health providers and facilities and reduced the likelihood of deliveries at primary health facilities and attendance by midwives/nurses. Women with JKN coverage were 13.1% and 17.0% (p<0.05) more likely to be attended by OBGYN/general practitioner (GP) and to deliver at hospitals, respectively, compared with uninsured women. We found notable synergistic effects of insurance status, place of residence and economic status on women's choice of type of birth attendant and place of delivery. Insured women living in Java-Bali and in the richest wealth quintile were 6.4 times more likely to be attended by OBGYN/GP and 4.2 times more likely to deliver at a hospital compared with those without health insurance, living in Eastern Indonesia, and in the poorest income quantile. CONCLUSION: There are large variations in the choice of birth attendant and place of delivery by population groups in Indonesia. Evaluation of health systems reform initiatives, including the JKN programme and the primary healthcare strengthening, is essential to determine their impact on disparities in maternal health services.

The impact of depression and physical multimorbidity on health-related quality of life in China: a national longitudinal quantile regression study.

The co-occurrence of mental and physical chronic conditions is a growing concern and a largely unaddressed challenge in low-and-middle-income countries. This study aimed to investigate the independent and multiplicative effects of depression and physical chronic conditions on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in China, and how it varies by age and gender. We used two waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011, 2015), including 9227 participants aged ≥ 45 years, 12 physical chronic conditions and depressive symptoms. We used mixed-effects linear regression to assess the effects of depression and physical multimorbidity on HRQoL, which was measured using a proxy measure of Physical Component Scores (PCS) and Mental Component Scores (MCS) of the matched SF-36 measure. We found that each increased number of physical chronic conditions, and the presence of depression were independently associated with lower proxy PCS and MCS scores. There were multiplicative effects of depression and physical chronic conditions on PCS (- 0.83 points, 95% CI - 1.06, - 0.60) and MCS scores (- 0.50 points, 95% CI - 0.73, - 0.27). The results showed that HRQoL decreased markedly with multimorbidity and was exacerbated by the presence of co-existing physical and mental chronic conditions.

Epidemiology of physical-mental multimorbidity and its impact among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in Australia: a cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the differences in multimorbidity between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians, and the effect of multimorbidity on health service use and work productivity. SETTING: Cross-sectional sample of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia wave 17. PARTICIPANTS: A nationally representative sample of 16 749 respondents aged 18 years and above. OUTCOME MEASURES: Multimorbidity prevalence and pattern, self-reported health, health service use and employment productivity by Indigenous status. RESULTS: Aboriginal respondents reported a higher prevalence of multimorbidity (24.2%) compared with non-Indigenous Australians (20.7%), and the prevalence of mental-physical multimorbidity was almost twice as high (16.1% vs 8.1%). Multimorbidity pattern varies significantly among the Aboriginal and non-Indigenous Australians. Multimorbidity was associated with higher health service use (any overnight admission: adjusted OR=1.52, 95% CI=1.46 to 1.58), reduced employment productivity (days of sick leave: coefficient=0.25, 95% CI=0.19 to 0.31) and lower perceived health status (SF6D score: coefficient=-0.04, 95% CI=-0.05 to -0.04). These associations were found to be comparable in both Aboriginal and non-Indigenous populations. CONCLUSIONS: Multimorbidity prevalence was significantly greater among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders compared with the non-Indigenous population, especially mental-physical multimorbidity. Strategies are required for better prevention and management of multimorbidity for the aboriginal population to reduce health inequalities in Australia.

Associations between Indonesia's national health insurance, effective coverage in maternal health and neonatal mortality: a multilevel interrupted time-series analysis 2000-2017.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the effect of Indonesia's national health insurance programme (Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN)) on effective coverage for maternal and child health across geographical regions and population groups. METHODS: We used four waves of the Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey from 2000 to 2017, which included 38 880 women aged 15-49 years and 144 000 birth records. Key outcomes included antenatal and delivery care, caesarean section and neonatal and infant mortality. We used multilevel interrupted time-series regression to examine changes in outcomes after the introduction of the JKN in January 2014. FINDINGS: JKN introduction was associated with significant level increases in (1) antenatal care (ANC) crude coverage (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.81, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.27); (2) ANC quality-adjusted coverage (aOR 1.66, 95% CI 1.38 to 1.98); (3) ANC user-adherence-adjusted coverage (aOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.45 to 2.25); (4) safe delivery service contact (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.42 to 2.36); and (5) safe delivery crude coverage (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.75). We did not find any significant level increase in ANC service contact or caesarean section. Interestingly, increases in ANC service contact and crude coverage, and safe delivery crude coverage were larger among the poorest compared with the most affluent. No statistically significant associations were found between JKN introduction and neonatal and infant mortality (p>0.05) in the first 3 years following implementation. INTERPRETATION: Expansion of social health insurance led to substantial improvements in quality of care for maternal health services but not in child mortality. Concerted efforts are required to equitably improve service quality and child mortality across the population in Indonesia.

The relative impact of underweight, overweight, smoking, and physical inactivity on health and associated costs in Indonesia: propensity score matching of a national sample.

BACKGROUND: Indonesia is in the middle of a rapid epidemiological transition with an ageing population and increasing exposure to risk factors for chronic conditions. This study examines the relative impacts of obesity, tobacco consumption, and physical inactivity, on non-communicable diseases multimorbidity, health service use, catastrophic health expenditure (CHE), and loss in employment productivity in Indonesia. METHODS: Secondary analyses were conducted of cross-sectional data from adults aged ≥ 40 years (n = 12,081) in the Indonesian Family Life Survey 2014/2015. We used propensity score matching to assess the associations between behavioural risk factors and health service use, CHE, employment productivity, and multimorbidity. RESULTS: Being obese, overweight and a former tobacco user was associated with a higher number of chronic conditions and multimorbidity (p < 0.05). Being a former tobacco user contributed to a higher number of outpatient and inpatient visits as well as CHE incidences and work absenteeism. Physical inactivity relatively increased the number of outpatient visits (30% increase, p < 0.05) and work absenteeism (21% increase, P < 0.06). Although being underweight was associated with an increased outpatient care utilisation (23% increase, p < 0.05), being overweight was negatively associated with CHE incidences (50% decrease, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Combined together, obesity, overweight, physical inactivity and tobacco use contributed to an increased number of NCDs as well as medical costs and productivity loss in Indonesia. Interventions addressing physical and behavioural risk factors are likely to have substantial benefits for individuals and the wider society in Indonesia.

Provincial heterogeneity in the management of care cascade for hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia in China: Analysis of nationally representative population-based survey.

Background: This study aims to examine (1) province-level variations in the levels of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and behavioral risk for CVDs, (2) province-level variations in the management of cascade of care for hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia, and (3) the association of province-level economic development and individual factors with the quality of care for hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia. Methods: We used nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2015, which included 12,597 participants aged 45 years. Using a care cascade framework, we examined the quality of care provided to patients with three prevalent NCDs: hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia. The proportion of WHO CVD risk based on the World Health Organization CVD risk prediction charts, Cardiovascular Risk Score (CRS) and Behavior Risk Score (BRS) were calculated. We performed multivariable logistic regression models to determine the individual-level drivers of NCD risk variables and outcomes. To examine socio-demographic relationships with CVD risk, linear regression models were applied. Results: In total, the average CRS was 4.98 (95% CI: 4.92, 5.05), while the average BRS was 3.10 (95% confidence interval: 3.04, 3.15). The weighted mean CRS (BRS) in Fujian province ranged from 4.36 to 5.72 (P < 0.05). Most of the provinces had a greater rate of hypertension than diabetes and dyslipidaemia awareness and treatment. Northern provinces had a higher rate of awareness and treatment of all three diseases. Similar patterns of regional disparity were seen in diabetes and dyslipidaemia care cascades. There was no evidence of a better care cascade for CVDs in patients who reside in more economically advanced provinces. Conclusion: Our research found significant provincial heterogeneity in the CVD risk scores and the management of the cascade of care for hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia for persons aged 45 years or more. To improve the management of cascade of care and to eliminate regional and disparities in CVD care and risk factors in China, local and population-based focused interventions are necessary.

Out-Of-Pocket Expenditure Associated with Physical Inactivity, Excessive Weight, and Obesity in China: Quantile Regression Approach.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies exploring associations of physical inactivity, obesity, and out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) mainly used traditional linear regression, and little is known about the effect of both physical inactivity and obesity on OOPE across the percentile distribution. This study aims to assess the effects of physical inactivity and obesity on OOPE in China using a quantile regression approach. METHODS: Study participants included 10,687 respondents aged 45 years and older from the recent wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2015. Linear regression and quantile regression models were used to examine the association of physical activity, body weight with annual OOPE. RESULTS: Overall, the proportion of overweight and obesity was 33.2% and 5.8%, respectively. The proportion of individuals performing high-level, moderate-level, and low-level physical activity was 55.2%, 12.7%, and 32.1%, respectively. The effects of low-level physical activity on annual OOPE were small at the bottom quantiles but more pronounced at higher quantiles. Respondents with low-level activity had an increased annual OOPE of 26.9 USD, 150.3 USD, and 1,534.4 USD, at the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles, respectively, compared with those with high-level activity. The effects of overweight and obesity on OOPE were also small at the bottom quantiles but more pronounced at higher quantiles. CONCLUSION: Interventions that improve the lifestyles and unhealthy behaviors among people with obesity and physical inactivity are likely to yield substantial financial gains for the individual and health systems in China.

Low physical activity is associated with adverse health outcome and higher costs in Indonesia: A national panel study.

Aims: To assess the association between low physical activity, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and risk factors, health service utilization, risk of catastrophic health expenditure, and work productivity in Indonesia. Methods: In this population-based, panel data analysis, we used data from two waves of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) for 2007/2008 and 2014/2015. Respondents aged 40-80 years who participated in both waves were included in this study (n = 5,936). Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). Multinomial logistic regression model was used to examine factors associated with physical activity levels (low, moderate, and high). We applied a series of multilevel mixed-effect panel regression to examine the associations between physical activity and outcome variables. Results: The prevalence of low physical activity increased from 18.2% in 2007 to 39.6% in 2014. Compared with those with high physical activity, respondents with low physical activity were more likely to have a 10-year high CVD risk (AOR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.51-2.95), use outpatient care (AOR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.07-1.96) and inpatient care (AOR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.07-1.96), experience catastrophic health expenditure of 10% of total household expenditure (AOR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.21-2.28), and have lower labor participation (AOR: 0.24, 95% 0.20-0.28). Conclusions: Low physical activity is associated with adverse health outcomes and considerable costs to the health system and wider society. Accelerated implementation of public health policies to reduce physical inactivity is likely to result in substantial population health and economic benefits.

Non-communicable disease risk factors and management among internal migrant in China: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In 2019, there are more than 290 million people who have ever migrated from rural to urban areas in China. These rural-to-urban internal migrants account for more than one-fifth of China's population and is the largest internal migrant group globally. We present the first systematic review that examines whether internal migrants are more likely to exhibit non-communicable diseases (NCDs) risk factors and have worse NCD management outcomes than non-migrant counterparts in China. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted via medical, public health, and economic databases including Scopus, MEDLINE, JSTOR, WHO Library Database and World Bank e-Library from 2000 to 2020. Study quality was assessed using the National Institute of Health Quality Assessment tool. We conducted a narrative review and synthesised differences for all studies included, stratified by different types of outcomes. We also conducted random-effects meta-analysis where we had a minimum of two studies with 95% CIs reported. The study protocol has been registered with PROSPERO: CRD42019139407. RESULTS: For most NCD risk factors and care cascade management, comparisons between internal migrants and other populations were either statistically insignificant or inconclusive. While most studies found migrants have a higher prevalence of tobacco use than urban residents, these differences were not statistically significant in the meta-analysis. Although three out four studies suggested that migrants may have worse access to NCD treatment and both studies suggested migrants have lower blood pressure control rates than non-migrants, these findings were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Findings from this systematic review demonstrate that there is currently insufficient evidence on migrant and non-migrant differences in NCD risk factors and management in China. Further research is expected to investigate access to healthcare among internal and its effect on both their NCD outcomes and long-term healthcare costs in China.

Socioeconomic inequalities in effective service coverage for reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health: a comparative analysis of 39 low-income and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: Reducing socioeconomic inequalities in access to good quality health care is key for countries to achieve Universal Health Coverage. This study aims to assess socioeconomic inequalities in effective coverage of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS: Using the most recent national health surveys from 39 LMICs (between 2014 and 2018), we calculated coverage indicators using effective coverage care cascade that consists of service contact, crude coverage, quality-adjusted coverage, and user-adherence-adjusted coverage. We quantified wealth-related and education-related inequality using the relative index of inequality, slope index of inequality, and concentration index. FINDINGS: The quality-adjusted coverage of RMNCH services in 39 countries was substantially lower than service contact, in particular for postnatal care (64 percentage points [pp], p-value<0·0001), family planning (48·7 pp, p<0·0001), and antenatal care (43·6 pp, p<0·0001) outcomes. Upper-middle-income countries had higher effective coverage levels compared with low- and lower-middle-income countries in family planning, antenatal care, delivery care, and postnatal care. Socioeconomic inequalities tend to be wider when using effective coverage measurement compared with crude and service contact measurements. Our findings show that upper-middle-income countries had a lower magnitude of inequality compared with low- and lower-middle-income countries. INTERPRETATION: Reliance on the average contact coverage tends to underestimate the levels of socioeconomic inequalities for RMNCH service use in LMICs. Hence, the effective coverage measurement using a care cascade approach should be applied. While RMNCH coverages vary considerably across countries, equitable improvement in quality of care is particularly needed for lower-middle-income and low-income countries. FUNDING: None.

Effect of multimorbidity on utilisation and out-of-pocket expenditure in Indonesia: quantile regression analysis.

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity (the presence of two or more non-communicable diseases) is a major growing challenge for many low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Yet, its effects on health care costs and financial burden for patients have not been adequately studied. This study investigates the effect of multimorbidity across the different percentiles of healthcare utilisation and out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE). METHODS: We conducted a secondary data analysis of the 2014/2015 Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS-5), which included 13,798 respondents aged ≥40 years. Poisson regression was used to assess the association between sociodemographic characteristics and the total number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), while multivariate logistic regression and quantile regression analysis was used to estimate the associations between multimorbidity, health service use and OOPE. RESULTS: Overall, 20.8% of total participants had two or more NCDs in 2014/2015. The number of NCDs was associated with higher healthcare utilisation (coefficient 0.11, 95% CI 0.07-0.14 for outpatient care and coefficient 0.09 (95% CI 0.02-0.16 for inpatient care) and higher four-weekly OOPE (coefficient 27.0, 95% CI 11.4-42.7). The quantile regression results indicated that the marginal effect of having three or more NCDs on the absolute amount of four-weekly OOPE was smaller for the lower percentiles (at the 25th percentile, coefficient 1.0, 95% CI 0.5-1.5) but more pronounced for the higher percentile of out-of-pocket spending distribution (at the 90th percentile, coefficient 31.0, 95% CI 15.9-46.2). CONCLUSION: Multimorbidity is positively correlated with health service utilisation and OOPE and has a significant effect, especially among those in the upper tail of the utilisation/costs distribution. Health financing strategies are urgently required to meet the needs of patients with multimorbidity, particularly for vulnerable groups that have a higher level of health care utilisation.

Medical costs and out-of-pocket expenditures associated with multimorbidity in China: quantile regression analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Multimorbidity is a growing challenge in low-income and middle-income countries. This study investigates the effects of multimorbidity on annual medical costs and the out-of-pocket expenditures (OOPEs) along the cost distribution. METHODS: Data from the nationally representative China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2015), including 10 592 participants aged ≥45 years and 15 physical and mental chronic diseases, were used for this nationally representative cross-sectional study. Quantile multivariable regressions were employed to understand variations in the association of chronic disease multimorbidity with medical cost and OOPE. RESULTS: Overall, 69.5% of middle-aged and elderly Chinese had multimorbidity in 2015. Increased number of chronic diseases was significantly associated with greater health expenditures across every cost quantile groups. The effect of chronic diseases on total medical cost was found to be larger among the upper tail than those in the lower tail of the cost distributions (coefficients 12, 95% CI 6 to 17 for 10th percentile; coefficients 296, 95% CI 71 to 522 for 90th percentile). Annual OOPE also increased with chronic diseases from the 10th percentile to the 90th percentile. Multimorbidity had larger effects on OOPE and was more pronounced at the upper tail of the health expenditure distribution (regression coefficients of 8 and 84 at the 10th percentile and 75th percentile, respectively). CONCLUSION: Multimorbidity is associated with escalating healthcare costs in China. Further research is required to understand the impact of multimorbidity across different population groups.

Impact of non-communicable disease multimorbidity on health service use, catastrophic health expenditure and productivity loss in Indonesia: a population-based panel data analysis study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine non-communicable diseases (NCDs) multimorbidity level and its relation to households' socioeconomic characteristics, health service use, catastrophic health expenditures and productivity loss. DESIGN: This study used panel data of the Indonesian Family Life Survey conducted in 2007 (Wave 4) and 2014 (Wave 5). SETTING: The original sampling frame was based on 13 out of 27 provinces in 1993, representing 83% of the Indonesian population. PARTICIPANTS: We included respondents aged 50 years and above in 2007, excluding those who did not participate in both Waves 4 and 5. The total number of participants in this study are 3678 respondents. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: We examined three main outcomes; health service use (outpatient and inpatient care), financial burden (catastrophic health expenditure) and productivity loss (labour participation, days primary activity missed, days confined in bed). We applied multilevel mixed-effects regression models to assess the associations between NCD multimorbidity and outcome variables, RESULTS: Women were more likely to have NCD multimorbidity than men and the prevalence of NCD multimorbidity increased with higher socioeconomic status. NCD multimorbidity was associated with a higher number of outpatient visits (compared with those without NCD, incidence rate ratio (IRR) 4.25, 95% CI 3.33 to 5.42 for individuals with >3 NCDs) and inpatient visits (IRR 3.68, 95% CI 2.21 to 6.12 for individuals with >3 NCDs). NCD multimorbidity was also associated with a greater likelihood of experiencing catastrophic health expenditure (for >3 NCDs, adjusted OR (aOR) 1.69, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.81) and lower participation in the labour force (aOR 0.23, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.33) compared with no NCD. CONCLUSIONS: NCD multimorbidity is associated with substantial direct and indirect costs to individuals, households and the wider society. Our study highlights the importance of preparing health systems for addressing the burden of multimorbidity in low-income and middle-income countries.

The Joint Effect of Physical Multimorbidity and Mental Health Conditions Among Adults in Australia.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of chronic physical and mental health conditions is rising globally. Little evidence exists on the joint effect of physical and mental health conditions on health care use, work productivity, and health-related quality of life in Australia. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, waves 9 (2009), 13 (2013), and 17 (2017). Economic effects associated with multimorbidity were measured through health service use, work productivity loss, and health-related quality of life. We used generalized estimating equations to assess the effect of the association between physical multimorbidity and mental health conditions and economic outcomes. RESULTS: From 2009 through 2017 the prevalence of physical multimorbidity increased from 15.1% to 16.2%, and the prevalence of mental health conditions increased from 11.2% to 17.3%. The number of physical health conditions was associated with the number of health services used (general practitioner visits, incidence rate ratio = 1.41), work productivity loss (labor force participation, adjusted odds ratio = 0.71), and reduced health-related quality of life (SF-6D score: Coefficient = -0.03). These effects were exacerbated by the presence of mental health conditions and low socioeconomic status. CONCLUSION: Having multiple physical health conditions (physical multimorbidity) creates substantial health and financial burdens on individuals, the health system, and society, including increased use of health services, loss of work productivity, and decreased health-related quality of life. The adverse effects of multimorbidity on health, quality of life, and economic well-being are exacerbated by the co-occurrence of mental health conditions and low socioeconomic status.

Impact of Indonesia's national health insurance scheme on inequality in access to maternal health services: A propensity score matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Reducing inequality in maternal, neonatal and infant mortality are key targets in the Sustainable Development Goals. This study is the first to evaluate the impact of Indonesia's national health insurance scheme, Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN), on access to maternal health services by sociodemographic status. METHODS: Using data from the 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) on women with live births in 2016-2017, we conducted propensity score matching (PSM) analysis to evaluate the association of JKN enrollment on the following maternal health care utilisation outcomes: (1) at least four antenatal care (ANC4+) visits; (2) ANC4+ visits and received essential components of ANC; (3) skilled birth attendance; (4) facility-based delivery; (5) post-natal care (PNC); and (6) PNC with skilled provider. Analyses were conducted at the national level and by economic subgroup and region of residence. Additionally, we investigated the potential negative impact of JKN on access to maternal health services among the uninsured population by looking at trends over time using data from the 2012 and 2017 IDHS. RESULTS: Of the 5429 women who had recently given birth, 61% were insured by JKN in 2017. After matching treated and untreated women on key sociodemographic characteristics, enrollment in JKN was associated with a higher prevalence of receiving ANC4+ visits (7.4%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.8-9.39); ANC4+ visits and received essential components of ANC (5.6%, 95% CI = 3.3-7.9); skilled birth attendance (3.0%, 95% CI = 1.5-4.5; facility-based delivery (10.2%, 95% CI = 7.5-12.7); PNC (4.0%, 95% CI = 2.2-5.7); PNC with skilled provider (4.5%, 95% CI = 2.6-6.5). Effect sizes were larger among the poor and those living in less-developed areas, such as Eastern Indonesia and Sulawesi, except for at least ANC4+ and received clinical components. CONCLUSIONS: Expansion of health insurance coverage was associated with reductions in sociodemographic inequalities in access to maternal health services in Indonesia. However, large differences in utilisation persist across regions and by economic subgroup. Accelerating progress toward universal health coverage may reduce health inequalities in other low and middle-income countries.