Multimorbidity of chronic diseases among adult patients presenting to an inner-city clinic in Ghana

Chronic Conditions and Multimorbidity Among Middle-Aged and Elderly Peri-Urban Dwellers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Objectives

Chronic conditions and multimorbidity affect care needs and prevention opportunities.

Methods

We studied 2,246 men and women aged ≥40 years within the Dar es Salaam Urban Cohort Study from June 2017 to July 2018. Seventeen chronic conditions were assessed based on self-report, body and blood pressure measurement, blood tests, and screening instruments.

Results

Hypertension (51.3%), anemia (34.1%), obesity (32.2%), diabetes (31.6%), depressive symptoms (31.5%), low grip strength (21.2%), and ischemic heart disease (11.9%) were widespread. Multimorbidity was common (73.7%). Women had higher odds of obesity, ischemic heart disease, and high cholesterol (adjusted OR: 2.08-4.16) and lower odds of underweight, low grip strength, alcohol problems, and smoking (adjusted OR: 0.04-0.45). Ten years of age were associated with higher odds of low grip strength, cognitive problems, hypertension, kidney disease, chronic cough, diabetes, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease, and multimorbidity (adjusted OR: 1.21-1.81) and lower odds of HIV infection (adjusted OR: 0.51).

Conclusion

We found a higher prevalence of multimorbidity than previously estimated for middle-aged and elderly people in sub-Saharan Africa. The chronic conditions underlying multimorbidity differed by sex.

Multimorbidity and its associated risk factors among adults in northern Sudan: a community-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Multimorbidity (having two or more coexisting long-term conditions) is a growing global challenge. However, data on multimorbidity among adults in Africa, including Sudan, are scarce. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of multimorbidity and its associated risk factors among adults in Sudan.

METHODS

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in northern Sudan from March 2022 to May 2022. Participants' sociodemographic characteristics were assessed using a questionnaire. Multimorbidity was defined as having two or more coexisting long-term conditions, including diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, obesity, anaemia and depression-anxiety. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the associated factors.

RESULTS

The participants included 250 adults: 119 (47.6%) males and 131(52.4%) females. The median interquartile range (IQR) of the enrolled adults of the age was 43.0 (30.0‒55.0) years. Of the 250 adults, 82(32.8%), 17(6.8%), 84(33.6%), and 67(26.8%) were normal weight, underweight, overweight, and obese, respectively; 148(59.2%), 72(28.8%), 63(25.2%), 67(26.8%), and 98(39.2%) had hypertension, DM, anaemia, obesity, and depression-anxiety, respectively. A total of 154 adults (61.6%) had multimorbidity: 97(38.8%), 49(19.6%), and 8(3.2%) had two, three, and four morbidities, respectively. The remaining 21 (8.4%), and 75 (30.0%) adults had no morbidity, and one morbidity, respectively. In amultivariate logistic regression analysis, increasing age (adjusted odd ratio [AOR] = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01‒1.05), and female sex (AOR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.16‒4.06) were associated with multimorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of multimorbidity revealed in this study uncovers a major public health problem among Sudanese adults. Our results show that increasing age and female sex are associated with multimorbidity. Additional extensive studies are necessary to evaluate the magnitude of multimorbidity for improved future planning and establishing effective health systems.

Multimorbidity in African ancestry populations: a scoping review

OBJECTIVES

Multimorbidity (MM) is a growing concern linked to poor outcomes and higher healthcare costs. While most MM research targets European ancestry populations, the prevalence and patterns in African ancestry groups remain underexplored. This study aimed to identify and summarise the available literature on MM in populations with African ancestry, on the continent, and in the diaspora.

DESIGN

A scoping review was conducted in five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct and JSTOR) in July 2022. Studies were selected based on predefined criteria, with data extraction focusing on methodology and findings. Descriptive statistics summarised the data, and a narrative synthesis highlighted key themes.

RESULTS

Of the 232 publications on MM in African-ancestry groups from 2010 to June 2022-113 examined continental African populations, 100 the diaspora and 19 both. Findings revealed diverse MM patterns within and beyond continental Africa. Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are predominant in both groups (80% continental and 70% diaspora). Infectious diseases featured more in continental studies (58% continental and 16% diaspora). Although many papers did not specifically address these features, as in previous studies, older age, being women and having a lower socioeconomic status were associated with a higher prevalence of MM, with important exceptions. Research gaps identified included limited data on African-ancestry individuals, inadequate representation, under-represented disease groups, non-standardised methodologies, the need for innovative data strategies, and insufficient translational research.

CONCLUSION

The growing global MM prevalence is mirrored in African-ancestry populations. Recognising the unique contexts of African-ancestry populations is essential when addressing the burden of MM. This review emphasises the need for additional research to guide and enhance healthcare approaches for African-ancestry populations, regardless of their geographic location.

Multimorbidity, Treatment, and Determinants among Chronic Patients Attending Primary Health Facilities in Tshwane, South Africa

The growing burden of non-communicable diseases amidst the largest burden of HIV in South Africa leads to disease combinations of multimorbidity with the complexity of care. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess multimorbidity, medication adherence, and associated factors among out-patients with chronic diseases in primary health care (PHC) facilities in Tshwane, South Africa. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on comorbidities and medication adherence, along with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. Logistic regression models were used to analyse the determinants of multimorbidity and medication adherence. In all 400 patients with chronic diseases (mean age: 47 ± 12 years) living in poor environments, common chronic conditions were hypertension (62%), diabetes (45%), HIV (44%), TB (33%), hypercholesterolemia (18%), and gout (13%). The proportion of concordant comorbidity (i.e., diseases with similar risk profiles and management) was 72%, more than 28% of discordant comorbidity (i.e., diseases not related in pathogenesis or management). Most patients had two coexisting chronic conditions (75%), while few had more than two chronic conditions (23%) and single-occurring conditions (2%). Prevalence rates for common multimorbidity patterns were 25% (HIV and TB), 17% (hypertension and diabetes), 9% (hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia), and 2% (hypertension diabetes and HIV), while medication adherence was estimated at 74%. In multivariate analysis, multimorbidity was associated with an older age and lower socio-economic status, while medication non-adherence was associated with a younger age and socio-economic factors. The study highlights the presence of multimorbidity among primary care patients attributed to hypertension, diabetes, HIV, and TB in South Africa with non-adherence to medication in one-third of patients. Policies are needed for education on multimorbidity with a need to optimize lifestyle modifications, perhaps proactive outreach or nursing contact with high-risk patients with public-health-sensitive conditions, such as HIV and/or TB, as well as patients with a history of non-adherence to medications. Considerations should be given to the development of a medication adherence scale for multiple chronic conditions beyond assessing adherence to a single index medication.

Identifying the prevalence and correlates of multimorbidity in middle-aged men and women: a cross-sectional population-based study in four African countries

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of multimorbidity, to identify which chronic conditions cluster together and to identify factors associated with a greater risk for multimorbidity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, multicentre, population-based study.

SETTING

Six urban and rural communities in four sub-Saharan African countries.

PARTICIPANTS

Men (n=4808) and women (n=5892) between the ages of 40 and 60 years from the AWI-Gen study.

MEASURES

Sociodemographic and anthropometric data, and multimorbidity as defined by the presence of two or more of the following conditions: HIV infection, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, asthma, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, hypertension.

RESULTS

Multimorbidity prevalence was higher in women compared with men (47.2% vs 35%), and higher in South African men and women compared with their East and West African counterparts. The most common disease combination at all sites was dyslipidaemia and hypertension, with this combination being more prevalent in South African women than any single disease (25% vs 21.6%). Age and body mass index were associated with a higher risk of multimorbidity in men and women; however, lifestyle correlates such as smoking and physical activity were different between the sexes.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of multimorbidity in middle-aged adults in SSA is of concern, with women currently at higher risk. This prevalence is expected to increase in men, as well as in the East and West African region with the ongoing epidemiological transition. Identifying common disease clusters and correlates of multimorbidity is critical to providing effective interventions.

The burden of disease-specific multimorbidity among older adults in India and its states: evidence from LASI

BACKGROUND

Around the world, advances in public health and changes in clinical interventions have resulted in increased life expectancy. Multimorbidity is becoming more of an issue, particularly in countries where the population is rapidly ageing. We aimed to determine the prevalence of multimorbidity and disease-specific multimorbidity and examine its association with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics among older adults in India and its states.

METHODS

The individual data from the longitudinal ageing study in India (LASI) were used for this study, with 11 common chronic conditions among older adults aged 60 and above years (N = 31,464). Descriptive statistics were used to report the overall prevalence of multimorbidity and disease-specific burden of multimorbidity. Multinomial logistic regression has been used to explore the factors associated with multimorbidity.

RESULTS

Prevalence of single morbidity was 30.3%, and multimorbidity was 32.1% among older people in India. Multimorbidity was higher among females and in urban areas and increased with age and among those living alone. Hypertension, arthritis and thyroid were highly prevalent among females and chronic lung diseases and stroke were highly prevalent among males. The older people in the state of Kerala had a high prevalence of multimorbidity (59.2%). Multimorbidity was found to be more likely in older age groups of 75-79 years (RR-1.69; CI: 1.53-1.87) and 80 years and above (RR-1.40; CI: 1.27-1.56) and in the Western (RR-2.16; CI: 1.90-2.44) and Southern regions (RR-2.89; CI: 2.57-3.24). Those who were living with a spouse (RR-1.60; CI: 1.15-2.23) were more likely to have multimorbidity. Disease-specific multimorbidity was high in chronic heart disease (91%) and low in angina (64.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that multimorbidity has a positive relationship with advancing age, and disease-specific burden of multimorbidity is higher among chronic heart patients. Comorbidity, especially among those who already have chronic heart disease, stroke, cholesterol or thyroid disorder can have severe consequences on physical functioning, therefore, disease-specific health management needs to be enhanced.

Patterns of multimorbidity among a community-based cohort in rural India

Background

Multimorbidity estimates are expected to increase in India primarily due to the population aging. However, there is a lack of research estimating the burden of multimorbidity in the Indian context using a validated tool. We estimated the prevalence and determinants of multimorbidity amongst the adult population of the rural Uddanam region, Andhra Pradesh.

Methods

This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted as a part of an ongoing research program. Multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select 2419 adult participants from 40 clusters. Multimorbidity was assessed using Multimorbidity Assessment Questionnaire for Primary Care (MAQ-PC) tool, collecting information on 13 chronic diseases. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-12) was used to screen for depression. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to identify the strongest determinants of multimorbidity.

Results

Of the 2419 participants, 2289 completed the MAQ-PC tool. Mean age (standard deviation) of participants was 48.1 (13.1) years. The overall prevalence of multimorbidity was 58.5% (95% CI 56.5-60.6); with 30.7%, 15.6%, and 12.2% reporting two, three, and four chronic conditions, respectively. Acid peptic disease-musculoskeletal disease (44%) and acid peptic disease-musculoskeletal disease-hypertension (14.9%) were the most common dyad and triad. Among metabolic diseases, diabetes-hypertension (28.3%) and diabetes-hypertension-chronic kidney disease (7.6%) were the most common dyad and triad, respectively. Advancing age, female gender, and being obese were the strongest determinates of the presence of multimorbidity. Depression was highly prevalent among the study population, and participants with higher PHQ-12 score had 3.7 (2.5-5.4) greater odds of having multimorbidity.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that six of 10 adults in rural India are affected with multimorbidity. We report a higher prevalence of multimorbidity as compared with other studies conducted in India. We also identified vulnerable groups which would guide policy makers in developing holistic care packages for individuals with multimorbidity.

Experiences of multimorbidity in urban and rural Malawi: An interview study of burdens of treatment and lack of treatment

Multimorbidity (presence of ≥2 long term conditions (LTCs)) is a growing global health challenge, yet we know little about the experiences of those living with multimorbidity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We therefore explore: 1) experiences of men and women living with multimorbidity in urban and rural Malawi including their experiences of burden of treatment and 2) examine the utility of Normalization Process Theory (NPT) and Burden of Treatment Theory (BOTT) for structuring analytical accounts of these experiences. We conducted in depth, semi-structured interviews with 32 people in rural (n = 16) and urban settings (n = 16); 16 males, 16 females; 15 under 50 years; and 17 over 50 years. Data were analysed thematically and then conceptualised through the lens of NPT and BOTT. Key elements of burden of treatment identified included: coming to terms with and gaining an understanding of life with multimorbidity; dealing with resulting disruptions to family life; the work of seeking family and community support; navigating healthcare systems; coping with lack of continuity of care; enacting self-management advice; negotiating medical advice; appraising treatments; and importantly, dealing with the burden of lack of treatments/services. Poverty and inadequate healthcare provision constrained capacity to deal with treatment burden while supportive social and community networks were important enabling features. Greater access to health information/education would lessen treatment burden as would better resourced healthcare systems and improved standards of living. Our work demonstrates the utility of NPT and BOTT for aiding conceptualisation of treatment burden issues in LMICs but our findings highlight that 'lack' of access to treatments or services is an important additional burden which must be integrated in accounts of treatment burden in LMICs.

Sociodemographic Differences in Multimorbidity: A Closer Look from Indonesian Family and Life Survey

The prevalence of multimorbidity, the coexistence of two or more chronic diseases, is expected to increase, including in Indonesia. This phenomenon is associated with increased life expectancy and incidence of non-communicable diseases. Therefore, this study assesses the burden of multimorbidity in Indonesia by sociodemographic factors. The researchers analyzed cross-sectional data from the latest wave of IFLS conducted in 2014, the IFLS wave 5. The researchers included individuals aged 15 and above with blood pressure measurements (n= 32.256) from 13,536 households. Meanwhile, the researchers excluded individuals with missing data on BMI (183 individuals) or who had biologically implausible or extreme values (n=6). The analyses were then conducted on 32,067 individuals. The analyses comprised the ten most common self-reported chronic diseases diagnosis in IFLS-5. The findings revealed that the prevalence of self-reported multimorbidity in Indonesia was relatively high, at 9.32% (n= 2.989), with the highest proportion of multimorbidity reported among the elderly. Approximately 2.76% of the respondents (n- 885) reported having three or more chronic diseases. The most common combinations were hypertension and digestive problem (2.15%, n= 689), followed by hypertension and arthritis (1.79%, n= 574), and hypertension and high cholesterol (1.68%, n= 539). When stratified by sociodemographic factors, the researchers found a higher proportion of multimorbidity among females (11.01%, n= 3,530) compared to males (7.41%, n= 2.376), elderly (21.54%, n= 3.530) compared to younger adults, and previous smokers (20.90%, n= 6.072). People who were obese and overweight also reported a higher prevalence of multimorbidity (13.73%, n= 4.403 and 9.3%, n= 2.998, respectively). In addition, those living in urban areas had a higher proportion of multimorbidity (10.33%, n= 3.313) compared to rural areas (7.2%, n= 2.527). In conclusion, this study uncovered a relatively high prevalence of multimorbidity. People living in urban areas were overweight/obese and those who had low SES had a higher proportion of multimorbidity. With the nature of self-reported data and previously reported underdiagnosis of chronic diseases, screening to examine multimorbidity is needed.

Aggregation and combination of cardiovascular risk factors and their association with 10-year all-cause mortality: the PERU MIGRANT Study

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the association between the aggregation and pair-wise combination of selected cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and 10-year all-cause mortality.

METHODS

Secondary data analysis of the PERU MIGRANT study, a prospective population-based cohort. Ten-year all-cause mortality was determined for participants originally enrolled in the PERU MIGRANT Study (baseline in 2007) through the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status. The CVRF included hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and overweight/obesity. Exposures were composed of both the aggregation of the selected CVRF (one, two, and three or more CVRF) and pair-wise combinations of CVRF. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

FINDINGS

Of the 989 participants evaluated at baseline, 976 (98.8%) had information about vital status at 10 years of follow-up (9992.63 person-years), and 63 deaths were recorded. In the multivariable model, adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, participants with two CVRF (HR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.03-5.99), and those with three or more CVRF (HR: 3.93, 95% CI: 1.21-12.74) had higher all-cause mortality risk, compared to those without any CVRF. The pair-wise combinations associated with the highest risk of all-cause mortality, compared to those without such comorbidities, were hypertension with type 2 diabetes (HR: 11.67, 95% CI: 3.67-37.10), and hypertension with overweight/obesity (HR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.18-6.71).

CONCLUSIONS

The aggregation of two or more CVRF and the combination of hypertension with type 2 diabetes or overweight/obesity were associated with an increased risk of 10-year all-cause mortality. These risk profiles will inform primary and secondary prevention strategies to delay mortality from cardiovascular risk factors.

Multimorbidity and mortality in an older, rural black South African population cohort with high prevalence of HIV findings from the HAALSI Study

OBJECTIVES

Multimorbidity is associated with mortality in high-income countries. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between multimorbidity (≥2 of the following chronic medical conditions: hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, anaemia, HIV, angina, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol dependence) and all-cause mortality in an older, rural black South African population. We further investigated the relationship between HIV multimorbidity (HIV as part of the multimorbidity cluster) and mortality, while testing for the effect of frailty in all models.

DESIGN

Population cohort study.

SETTING

Agincourt subdistrict of Mpumalanga province, South Africa.

PARTICIPANTS

4455 individuals (54.7% female), aged ≥40 years (median age 61 years, IQR 52-71) and resident in the study area.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was time to death and the secondary outcome measure was likelihood of death within 2 years of the initial study visit. Mortality was determined during annual population surveillance updates.

RESULTS

3157 individuals (70.9%) had multimorbidity; 29% of these had HIV. In models adjusted for age and sociodemographic factors, multimorbidity was associated with greater risk of death (women: HR 1.72; 95% CI: 1.18 to 2.50; men: HR 1.46; 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.95) and greater odds of dying within 2 years (women: OR 2.34; 95% CI: 1.32 to 4.16; men: OR 1.51; 95% CI: 1.02 to 2.24). HIV multimorbidity was associated with increased risk of death compared with non-HIV multimorbidity in men (HR 1.93; 95% CI: 1.05 to 3.54), but was not statistically significant in women (HR 1.85; 95% CI: 0.85 to 4.04); when detectable, HIV viral loads were higher in men (p=0.021). Further adjustment for frailty slightly attenuated the associations between multimorbidity and mortality risk (women: HR 1.55; 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.26; men: HR 1.36; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.82), but slightly increased associations between HIV multimorbidity and mortality risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Multimorbidity is associated with mortality in this older black South African population. Health systems which currently focus on HIV should be reorganised to optimise identification and management of other prevalent chronic diseases.

Management of chronic non-communicable diseases in Ghana: a qualitative study using the chronic care model

Background

While the burden and mortality from chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) have reached epidemic proportions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), decision-makers and individuals still consider CNCDs to be infrequent and, therefore, do not pay the needed attention to their management. We, therefore, explored the practices and challenges associated with the management of CNCDs by patients and health professionals.

Methods

This was a qualitative study among 82 CNCD patients and 30 health professionals. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were used in collecting data from the participants. Data collected were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Experiences of health professionals regarding CNCD management practices involved general assessments such as education of patients, and specific practices based on type and stage of CNCDs presented. Patients’ experiences mainly centred on self-management practices which comprised self-restrictions, exercise, and the use of anthropometric equipment to monitor health status at home. Inadequate logistics, work-related stress due to heavy workload, poor utility supply, and financial incapability of patients to afford the cost of managing their conditions were challenges that militated against the effective management of CNCDs.

Conclusions

A myriad of challenges inhibits the effective management of CNCDs. To accelerate progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 3 on reducing premature mortality from CNCDs, the Ghana Health Service and management of the respective hospitals should ensure improved utility supply, adequate staff motivation, and regular in-service training. A chronic care management policy should also be implemented in addition to the review of the country’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by the Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Authority to cover the management of all CNCDs.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11170-4.

Prevalence of multimorbidity among adults attending primary health care centres in Qatar: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Context:

Multimorbidity (MM) is a global concern following the increase in life expectancy, the conquering of major infectious diseases, and the advances in the management of chronic illnesses. It places a substantial burden on patients and healthcare systems.

Aims:

This study aims to describe the prevalence and pattern of MM in adults among primary healthcare users in Qatar.

Settings and Design:

A retrospective cross-sectional study design.

Methods and Material:

Data were extracted from the electronic health records of patients aged 18 years and above who registered for care with 27 primary health centres in Qatar from 1^st January 2017 to 30^th June 2020. The distribution of MM among age groups, gender and nationality was analysed.

Results:

In the study population of 7,96,427, the prevalence of MM was found to be 22.1%. MM was more prevalent in females (51.2%) than males (48.8%). The prevalence of MM showed an increasing trend with increasing age, with a peak of 25.8% found in the 46–55 age group. Qatari nationals accounted for 32.7% of MM, Southeast Asians for 28.3%, North Africans for 16.7% and individuals from other Middle Eastern countries for 14.1%. The five most common long-term chronic conditions were type-2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obesity and eczema, with the first three being the most prevalent disease clusters.

Conclusions:

Our findings confirm that MM is common in Qatar's primary care centres. While the prevalence of MM was found to increase with increasing age, the largest proportion of patients with MM were those aged 46–55 years. This information adds to the available data on MM and directs health policymakers towards tailoring the management for the same.

Relationship Between Different Risk Factor Patterns and Follow-Up Outcomes in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Objective: Few studies have been concerned with the combined influences of the presence of multiple risk factors on follow-up outcomes in AMI patients. Our study aimed to identify risk factor patterns that may be associated with 1-year survival in male patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: Data were from the China STEMI Care Project Phase 2 (CSCAP-2) collected between 2015 and 2018. A total of 15,675 male STEMI patients were enrolled in this study. Risk factor patterns were characterized using latent class analysis (LCA) according to seven risk factors. Associations between risk factor patterns and follow-up outcomes, including the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and all-cause death, were investigated by Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Results: We obtained four risk factor patterns as "young and middle-aged with low levels of multimorbidity," "middle-aged with overweight," "middle-aged and elderly with normal weight," and "elderly with high multimorbidity." Four patterns had significant differences in event-free survival (P < 0.001). As compared with the patients of "young and middle-aged with low levels of multimorbidity" pattern, the risk of incidence of MACCE and all-cause death were increased in patients of "middle-aged with overweight" pattern (All-cause death: HR = 1.70, 95% CI:1.29~2.23; MACCE: HR = 1.49, 95% CI:1.29~1.72), "middle-aged and elderly with normal weight" pattern (All-cause death: HR = 3.04, 95% CI: 2.33~3.98; MACCE: HR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.56~2.12), and "elderly with high multimorbidity" pattern (All-cause death: HR = 5.78, 95% CI: 4.49~7.42; MACCE: HR = 2.67, 95% CI: 2.31~3.10). Conclusions: By adopting a Latent Class Analysis Approach, STEMI patients can be characterized into four risk factor patterns with significantly different prognosis. The data is useful for the improvement of community health management in each specific subgroup of patients, which indicates a particular risk factor pattern.

Multimorbidity of chronic diseases of lifestyle among South African adults

INTRODUCTION

the prevalence of non-communicable and chronic diseases has been on the increase globally and has been a major factor responsible for high morbidity and mortality. Multimorbidity of the chronic diseases in low/medium income countries should be a major concern for public health practitioners because of the communicable diseases they also battle with. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of multi-morbidity of chronic diseases of lifestyle (CDL) among adult South Africans.

METHODS

we employed General House Survey (GHS) data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) in December 2015 with a response rate was 90.5%. Data on diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, stroke, heart attack/myocardial infarction, hypertension were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS

the outcome of this secondary data analysis showed that about 16.3% of South Africans respondents aged 18 years and above had a single/or multiple CDL. The majority of the respondents with CDL were females (10.9%), older adults (9.4%), married (8.5%), of the black racial extract (11.9%), and reside in urban areas (3.4%). Also, high blood pressure (13.7%) was the most reported prevalent chronic disease while heart attack (1.1%) was the least reported chronic disease. The outcome of regression analysis after adjustment showed that gender (OR=0.56, CI=0.53-0.60, p<0.001), age [middle-aged adult (R=0.003, CI=0.003-0.004, p=0.001), older adult (R=0.25, CI=0.23-0.26, p=0.001)] and marital status [divorced (OR=1.55, CI=1.44-1.67, p<0.001), separated (OR=1.71, CI=1.46-2.00, p=0.001), single (R=1.88, CI=1.71-2.07, p=0.001)] were among the correlates of chronic diseases of lifestyle for the 1st step of the adjustment. However, White population group (OR=1.17, CI=0.96-1.41, p=0.113), residing in farm settlement (OR=0.99, CI=0.84-1.16, p=0.910) and all the sub-scales of educational status were not correlates of the CDLs for the 2nd adjustment of regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

the findings of the study suggest that CDL is endemic among the South African population and that the most susceptible groups are the older adults, females, the married, the uneducated and the coloured individuals.

Multimorbidity from Chronic Conditions among Adults in Urban Slums: The AWI-Gen Nairobi Site Study Findings

Background:

In the era of double burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, the burden of multimorbidity is likely to be common. However, there is limited evidence on the burden and its associated factors in the sub-Saharan African context.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to determine the levels and identify determinants of multimorbidity from chronic conditions in two urban slums in Nairobi.

Methods:

Data collected from 2003 study participants aged 40–60 years in two urban slums of the Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System in 2015 were used. Using self-report, anthropometry and key biomarkers, data on 16 conditions including chronic diseases, behavioral disorders and metabolic abnormalities were gathered. Lifetime multimorbidity defined by the occurrence of at least two chronic conditions in an individual at any time during their life course was computed. Factors associated with lifetime multimorbidity were identified using multiple logistic regression.

Findings:

A total of 2,081 chronic conditions were identified among 1,302 individuals. While 701 (35.0%) had no chronic condition, single morbidity was reported in 726 (36.2%) of the study population. The overall prevalence of lifetime multimorbidity was 28.7%. The prevalence of dyads and triads of simultaneous occurrences of conditions (episodic multimorbidity) was 20.8% and 6.1%, respectively. Single morbidity was positively associated with gender and alcohol consumption; and negatively associated with employment. Women, older people, the unemployed, current smokers and current alcohol consumers had higher levels of lifetime multimorbidity in the study population.

Interpretation:

The findings of this study indicate that a considerable proportion of adults living in urban slums experience multimorbidity from chronic conditions. Further studies with a better rigor to establish temporal associations between socio-demographic factors and the occurrence of chronic conditions are needed to explore the impacts and implications on health status and health system.

Impact of multimorbidity on risk and outcome of stroke: Lessons from chronic kidney disease

With both an aging population and greater post-stroke survival, multimorbidity is a growing healthcare challenge, affecting over 40% of stroke patients, and rising rapidly and predictably with increasing age. Commonly defined as the co-occurrence of two or more chronic conditions, multimorbidity burden is a strong adverse prognostic factor, associated with greater short- and long-term stroke mortality, worse rehabilitation outcomes, and reduced use of secondary prevention. Chronic kidney disease can be considered as the archetypal comorbidity, being age-dependent and also affecting about 40% of stroke patients. Chronic kidney disease and stroke share very similar traditional cardiovascular risk factor profiles such as hypertension and diabetes, though novel chronic kidney disease-specific risk factors such as inflammation and oxidative stress have also been proposed. Using chronic kidney disease as an exemplar condition, we explore the mechanisms of risk in multimorbidity, implications for management, impact on stroke severity, and downstream consequences such as post-stroke cognitive impairment and dementia.

Magnitude and determinants of multimorbidity and health care utilization among patients attending public versus private primary care: a cross-sectional study from Odisha, India

Background

Multimorbidity in primary care is a challenge not only for developing countries but also for low and medium income countries (LMIC). Health services in LMIC countries are being provided by both public and private health care providers. However, a critical knowledge gap exists on understanding the true extent of multimorbidity in both types of primary care settings.

Methods

We undertook a study to identify multimorbidity prevalence and healthcare utilization among both public and private primary care attendees in Odisha state of India. A total of 1649 patients attending 40 primary care facilities were interviewed using a structured multimorbidity assessment questionnaire collecting information on 22 chronic diseases, medication use, number of hospitalization and number of outpatient visits.

Result

The overall prevalence of multimorbidity was 28.3% and nearly one third of patients of public facilities and one fourth from private facilities had multimorbidity. Leading diseases among patients visiting public facilities included acid peptic diseases, arthritis and chronic back pain. No significant difference in reporting of hypertension and diabetes across the facilities was seen. Besides age, predictors of multimorbidity among patients attending public facilities were, females [AOR: 1.6; 95% CI 1.1–1.3] and non-aboriginal groups [AOR: 1.6; 95%CI 1.1–2.3] whereas, in private females [AOR: 1.6; 95%CI 1.1–2.4], better socioeconomic conditions [AOR 1.4; 95% CI 1.0–2.1] and higher educational status [primary school completed [AOR 2.6; 95%CI 1.6–4.2] and secondary schooling and above [AOR 2.0; 95%CI 1.1–3.6] with reference to no education were seen to be the determinants of multimorbidity. Increased number of hospital visits to public facilities were higher among lower educational status patients [IRR: 1.57; 95% CI 1.13–2.18] whereas, among private patients, the mean number of hospital visits was 1.70 times more in higher educational status [IRR: 1.70; 95%CI 1.01–3.69]. The mean number of medicines taken per day was higher among patients attending private hospitals.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that, multimorbidity is being more reported in public primary care facilities. The pattern and health care utilization in both types of settings are different. A comprehensive care approach must be designed for private care providers.

Multimorbidity of chronic non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Multimorbidity is rising in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the evidence on its epidemiology from LMICs settings is limited and the available literature has not been synthesized as yet.

OBJECTIVES

To review the available evidence on the epidemiology of multimorbidity in LMICs.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Grey literature databases were searched. We followed the PRISMA-ScR reporting guideline.

RESULTS

Of 33, 110 articles retrieved, 76 studies were eligible for the epidemiology of multimorbidity. Of these 76 studies, 66 (86.8%) were individual country studies. Fifty-two (78.8%) of which were confined to only six middle-income countries: Brazil, China, South Africa, India, Mexico and Iran. The majority (n = 68, 89.5%) of the studies were crosssectional in nature. The sample size varied from 103 to 242, 952. The largest proportion (n = 33, 43.4%) of the studies enrolled adults. Marked variations existed in defining and measuring multimorbidity. The prevalence of multimorbidity in LMICs ranged from 3.2% to 90.5%.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Studies on the epidemiology of multimorbidity in LMICs are limited and the available ones are concentrated in few countries. Despite variations in measurement and definition, studies consistently reported high prevalence of multimorbidity. Further research is urgently required to better understand the epidemiology of multimorbidity and define the best possible interventions to improve outcomes of patients with multimorbidity in LMICs.

Multimorbidity of chronic non-communicable diseases and its models of care in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Multimorbidity is the coexistence of two or more chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in a given individual. Multimorbidity is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and challenging health systems. Individuals with multimorbidity are facing the risk of premature mortality, lower quality of life and greater use of healthcare services. However, despite the huge challenge multimorbidity brings in LMICs, gaps remain in mapping and synthesising the available knowledge on the issue. The focus of this scoping review will be to synthesise the extent, range and nature of studies on the epidemiology and models of multimorbidity care in LMICs.

METHODS

PubMed (MEDLINE) will be the main database to be searched. For articles that are not indexed in the PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Cochrane databases will be searched. Grey literature databases will also be explored. There will be no restrictions on study setting or year of publication. Articles will be searched using key terms, including comorbidity, co-morbidity, multimorbidity, multiple chronic conditions and model of care. Relevant articles will be screened by two independent reviewers and data will be charted accordingly. The result of this scoping review will be presented using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist and reporting guideline.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This scoping review does not require ethical approval. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journal and presented at scientific conferences.

Women living with multi-morbidity in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana: a qualitative study guided by the Cumulative Complexity Model

Defined as the co-occurrence of more than two chronic conditions, multi-morbidity has been described as a significant health care problem: a trend linked to a rise in non-communicable disease and an ageing population. Evidence on the experiences of living with multi-morbidity in middle-income countries (MICs) is limited. In high-income countries (HICs), multi-morbidity has a complex impact on health outcomes, including functional status, disability and quality of life, complexity of health care and burden of treatment. Previous evidence also shows that multi-morbidity is consistently higher amongst women. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of women living with multi-morbidity in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana: to understand the complexity of their health needs due to multi-morbidity, and to document how the health system has responded. Guided by the Cumulative Complexity Model, and using stratified purposive sampling, 20 in-depth interviews were conducted between May and September 2015 across three polyclinics in the Greater Accra Region. The data were analysed using the six phases of Thematic Analysis. Overall four themes emerged: 1) the influences on patients' health experience; 2) seeking care and the responsiveness of the health care system; 3) how patients manage health care demands; and 4) outcomes due to health. Spirituality and the stigmatization caused by specific conditions, such as HIV, impacted their overall health experience. Women depended on the care and treatment provided through the health care system despite inconsistent coverage and a lack of choice thereof, although their experiences varied by chronic condition. Women depended on their family and community to offset the financial burden of treatment costs, which was exacerbated by having many conditions. The implications are that integrated health and social support, such as streamlining procedures and professional training on managing complexity, would benefit and reduce the burden of multi-morbidity experienced by women with multi-morbidity in Ghana.

Using community pharmacies to expand access to screening for noncommunicable diseases in suburban Ghana-A facility-based survey on client needs and acceptability

BACKGROUND

Many of the 28 million deaths from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries each year could be prevented through early detection and intervention. The introduction of screening for NCDs in community pharmacies (CPs) in Ghana could enhance access to early detection.

METHODS

We surveyed clients in three districts in suburban Ghana to assess perceived need for screening, willingness to be screened in CPs, and willingness to receive NCD health promotion information through text messages (NCD m-Health). We performed regression analysis to identify predictors of NCD m-Health acceptability.

RESULTS

We interviewed 330 clients in six CPs, 134 (42.3%) of whom were females. The median age was 34 years (interquartile range, 27-43). Fifty-four (16.4%) had no formal education. Although most respondents knew obesity (74.9%), smoking (81.9%), and excessive dietary salt (91.7%) were risk factors for NCDs, only 27.0% knew family history carried similar risk. Most respondents, 61.6% and 70.6%, respectively, had not had their weight and blood pressure (BP) checked for more than 12 months. These included about a third of respondents who were known hypertensives. Similarly, 71.3% of 80 participants with a family history of hypertension had not had their BPs checked. Screening for NCDs in CPs and the sending of NCD m-Health messages was deemed acceptable to 98.5% and 83.1% of the participants, respectively. Formal education beyond junior high school (Grade 9) was the strongest independent predictor of NCD m-Health acceptance (OR = 4.77; 95% CI, 1.72-13.18; P value < 0.01). One hundred and twenty-five (39.4%) participants indicated they would consider unsolicited NCD m-Health messages an invasion of their privacy.

CONCLUSION

An urgent need exists to promote access to NCD screening in these communities. Its introduction into CPs is acceptable to nearly all the clients surveyed. The introduction of NCD m-Health as an accompaniment requires consideration for the privacy of clients.

Mapping the global research landscape and knowledge gaps on multimorbidity: a bibliometric study

Background

To summarize global research trends and activities on multimorbidity; then to assess the knowledge gaps and to identify implications for knowledge exchange between high income countries (HICs) and low– and middle– income countries (LMICs).

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted to identify research publications on multimorbidity in the Web of Science^TM, as well as diabetes, depression, hypertension, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The time frame for the search was from 1900 to June, 2016. Information (such as publication date, subject category, author, country of origin, title, abstract, and keywords) were extracted and the full texts were obtained for the co–citation analysis. Data were linked with the life expectancy at birth (years) and Gross National Income (GNI). Co–citation and hierarchal clustering analysis was used to map the trends and research networks with CiteSpace II (JAVA freeware, copyright Chaomei Chen, http://cluster.cis.drexel.edu/~cchen/citespace/).

Findings

We identified 2864 relevant publications as at June 2016, with the first paper on this topic indexed in 1974 from Germany, but 80% were published after 2010. Further analysis yielded two knowledge gaps: (1) compared with single conditions (diabetes, hypertension, depression, and COPD), there is a mismatch between the high prevalence of multimorbidity and its research outputs (ratio of articles on multimorbidity vs other four single conditions is 1:13–150); (2) although a total of 76 countries have contributed to this research area, only 5% of research originated from LMICs where 73% of non–communicable disease (NCD) related deaths had occurred. Additional analysis showed the median year of first publication occurred 15 years later in the LMICs compared with HICs (2010 vs 1995); and longer life expectancy was associated with exponentially higher publication outputs (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.95) at the global level. The life expectancy at the median year (1994) of first publication was 66.1, with the gap between LMICs and HICs 7.9 (68.4 vs 76.3).

Conclusions

This study confirms substantial knowledge gaps in the research agenda on multimorbidity, with input urgently needed to move us forward worldwide, especially for and in LMICs. There is the possibility that LMICs can learn from and collaborate with HICs in this area.

Pattern and severity of multimorbidity among patients attending primary care settings in Odisha, India

Multimorbidity is increasingly the primary concern of healthcare systems globally with substantial implications for patient outcomes and resource cost. A critical knowledge gap exists as to the magnitude of multimorbidity in primary care practice in low and middle income countries with available information limited to prevalence. In India, primary care forms the bulk of the health care delivery being provided through both public (community health center) and private general practice setting. We undertook a study to identify multimorbidity patterns and relate these patterns to severity among primary care attendees in Odisha state of India. A total of 1649 patients attending 40 primary care facilities were interviewed using a structured multimorbidity assessment questionnaire. Multimorbidity patterns (dyad and triad) were identified for 21 chronic conditions, functional limitation was assessed as a proxy measure of severity and the mean severity score for each pattern, was determined after adjusting for age. The leading dyads in younger age group i.e. 18–29 years were acid peptic disease with arthritis/ chronic back ache/tuberculosis /chronic lung disease, while older age groups had more frequent combinations of hypertension + arthritis/ chronic lung disease/vision difficulty, and arthritis + chronic back ache. The triad of acid peptic disease + arthritis + chronic backache was common in men in all age groups. Tuberculosis and lung diseases were associated with significantly higher age-adjusted mean severity score (poorer functional ability). Among men, arthritis, chronic backache, chronic lung disease and vision impairment were observed to have highest severity) whereas women reported higher severity for combinations of hypertension, chronic back ache and arthritis. Given the paucity of studies on multimorbidity patterns in low and middle income countries, future studies should seek to assess the reproducibility of our findings in other populations and settings. Another task is the potential implications of different multimorbidity clusters for designing care protocols, as currently the protocols are disease specific, hardly taking comorbidity into account.

Prevalence and Patterns of Multimorbidity among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive People in Odisha, India: An Exploratory Study

INTRODUCTION

Improved and efficient Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) has turned HIV positive into a chronic disorder. The increase in life expectancy and quality of life comes with an increased risk of multimorbidity from the traditional risk factors.

AIM

To explore the prevalence of multimorbidity among People Living with HIV (PLHIV).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An exploratory cross-sectional study was carried out in an ART center of Odisha, India, from November 2013 to December 2013. A systematic random sampling was done to include 197 adult HIV positive patients receiving ART at least for one year or more. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic profile, ART status, multimorbidity and opportunistic infections.

RESULTS

The prevalence of multimorbidity was 47.7% (95% CI 41% to 55%). Among them, the most common chronic conditions were pulmonary tuberculosis (28.4%), gastro-intestinal conditions (7.1%), neural disorders (5.1%) and hypertension (2.5%). In total, 48.7% had opportunistic infections; with 36% bacterial, 25% fungal and 21% viral infections.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of multimorbidity was high among HIV positive patients. Further research should explore the epidemiology of multimorbidity among HIV positive patients to formulate proper clinical practice guidelines to enhance long-term outcomes of PLHIV in the current treatment era.

Development and Validation of a Questionnaire to Assess Multimorbidity in Primary Care: An Indian Experience

Multimorbidity remains an underexplored domain in Indian primary care. We undertook a study to assess the prevalence, correlates, and outcomes of multimorbidity in primary care settings in India. This paper describes the process of development and validation of our data collection tool "Multimorbidity Assessment Questionnaire for Primary Care (MAQ-PC)." An iterative process comprising desk review, chart review, and expert consultations was undertaken to generate the questionnaire. The MAQ-PC contained items on chronic conditions, health care utilization, health related quality of life, disease severity, and sociodemographics. It was first tested with twelve adults for comprehensibility followed by test-retest reliability with 103 patients from four primary care practices. For interrater reliability, two interviewers separately administered the questionnaire to sixteen patients. MAQ-PC displayed strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.69), interrater reliability (Cohen's Kappa: 0.78-1), and test-retest reliability (ICC: 0.970-0.741). Substantial concordance between self-report and physician diagnosis (Scott Kappa: 0.59-1.0) was observed for listed chronic conditions indicating strong concurrent validity. Nearly 54% had one chronic condition and 23.3% had multimorbidity. Our findings demonstrate MAQ-PC to be a valid and reliable measure of multimorbidity in primary care practice and suggest its potential utility in multimorbidity research in India.

Multimorbidity prevalence and pattern in Indonesian adults: an exploratory study using national survey data

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence and pattern of multimorbidity in the Indonesian adult population.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Community-based survey. The sampling frame was based on households in 13 of the 27 Indonesian provinces, representing about 83% of the Indonesian population.

PARTICIPANTS

9438 Indonesian adults aged 40 years and above.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prevalence and pattern of multimorbidity by age, gender and socioeconomic status.

RESULTS

The mean number of morbidities in the sample was 1.27 (SE ± 0.01). The overall age and sex standardised prevalence of multimorbidity was 35.7% (34.8% to 36.7%), with women having significantly higher prevalence of multimorbidity than men (41.5% vs 29.5%; p<0.001). Of those with multimorbidity, 64.6% (62.8% to 66.3%) were aged less than 60 years. Prevalence of multimorbidity was positively associated with age (p for trend <0.001) and affluence (p for trend <0.001) and significantly greater in women at all ages compared with men. For each 5-year increment in age there was an approximate 20% greater risk of multimorbidity in both sexes (18% in women 95% CI 1.14 to 1.22 and 22% in men 95% CI 1.18 to 1.26). Increasing age, female gender, non-Javanese ethnicity, and high per-capital expenditure were all significantly associated with higher odds of multimorbidity. The combination of hypertension with cardiac diseases, hypercholesterolemia, arthritis, and uric acid/gout were the most commonly occurring disease pairs in both sexes.

CONCLUSIONS

More than one-third of the Indonesian adult population are living with multimorbidity with women and the more wealthy being particularly affected. Of especial concern was the high prevalence of multimorbidity among younger individuals. Hypertension was the most frequently occurring condition common to most individuals with multimorbidity.

Prevalence and outcomes of multimorbidity in South Asia: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the studies of prevalence, patterns and consequences of multimorbidity reported from South Asia.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

SETTING

South Asia.

DATA SOURCES

Articles were retrieved from two electronic databases (PubMed and Embase) and from the relevant references lists. Methodical data extraction according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was followed. English-language studies published between 2000 and March 2015 were included.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies addressing prevalence, consequences and patterns of multimorbidity in South Asia. Articles documenting presence of two or more chronic conditions were included in the review. The quality and risk of bias were assessed using STROBE criteria.

DATA SELECTION

Two reviewers independently assessed studies for eligibility, extracted data and assessed study quality. Due to heterogeneity in methodologies among reported studies, only narrative synthesis of the results was carried out.

RESULTS

Of 11,132, 61 abstracts were selected and 13 were included for final data synthesis. The number of health conditions analysed per study varied from 7 to 22, with prevalence of multimorbidity from 4.5% to 83%. The leading chronic conditions were hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, cardiac problems and skin diseases. The most frequently reported outcomes were increased healthcare utilisation, lowered physical functioning and quality of life, and psychological distress.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study, a comprehensive mapping of multimorbidity research in South Asia, reveals the insufficient volume of work carried out in this domain. The published studies are inadequate to provide an indication of the magnitude of multimorbidity in these countries. Research into clinical and epidemiological aspects of multimorbidity is warranted to build up scientific evidence in this geographic region. The wide heterogeneity observed in the present review calls for greater methodological rigour while conducting these epidemiological studies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42013005456.

Prevalence, correlates, and outcomes of multimorbidity among patients attending primary care in Odisha, India

PURPOSE

Little information is available on multimorbidity in primary care in India. Because primary care is the first contact of health care for most of the population and important for coordinating chronic care, we wanted to examine the prevalence and correlates of multimorbidity in India and its association with health care utilization.

METHODS

Using a structured multimorbidity assessment protocol, we conducted a cross-sectional study, collecting information on 22 self-reported chronic conditions in a representative sample of 1,649 adult primary care patients in Odisha, India.

RESULTS

The overall age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of multimorbidity was 28.3% (95% CI, 24.3-28.6) ranging from 5.8% in patients aged 18 to 29 years to 45% in those aged older than 70 years. Older age, female sex, higher education, and high income were associated with significantly higher odds of multimorbidity. After adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES), education, and ethnicity, the addition of each chronic condition, as well as consultation at private hospitals, was associated with significant increase in the number of medicines intake per person per day. Increasing age and higher education status significantly raised the number of hospital visits per person per year for patients with multiple chronic conditions.

CONCLUSION

Our findings of higher prevalence of multimorbidity and hospitalizations in higher SES individuals contrast with findings in Western countries, where lower SES is associated with a greater morbidity burden.

Factors associated with self-reported ill health among older Ugandans: a cross sectional study

INTRODUCTION

There is limited research on the prevalence and factors associated with self-reported ill health among older people in Uganda.

OBJECTIVE

Therefore, the aim of this paper was to estimate the prevalence of self-reported ill health and to identify associated risk factors among older people (age 50+) in Uganda.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted secondary analysis of a cross sectional survey data from a weighted sample of 2382 older persons from the 2010 Uganda National Household survey. We used frequency distributions for descriptive statistics, chi-square tests (significance set at 95%) to identify initial associations and multivariable logistic regressions reporting odds ratios to examine observed associations with self-reported ill health.

RESULTS

Over half (62%) of the older people reported ill health in the 30 days preceding the survey. Self-reported ill health was positively associated with being a woman, being among the oldest old, living in the eastern region, being a household head, being Catholic, self-reported non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and being disabled.

CONCLUSION

Gender differentials exist in self-reported ill health among older persons in Uganda.

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Non-Communicable Diseases and Self Assessed Health in Turkey

BACKGROUND

Inequities in health need to be monitored and necessary actions should be taken to reduce them. This study aimed to determine the socioeconomic distribution of self-reported chronic diseases and self-assessed health (SAH) in Turkey and try to evaluate the determinants of such inequalities in terms of their contributions.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from the Turkish Health Survey conducted during year 2008, covering 14,655 adults aged 15 or older were analyzed for the first time to assess socioeconomic inequalities in chronic disease and suboptimal SAH prevalence by calculating concentration index (CI), which ranges from -1 to +1 (concentration of disease among lower and higher socioeconomic groups) and the relative index of inequality (RII), reflecting the prevalence ratio between the two extremes of wealth.

RESULTS

Several diseases and sub-optimal SAH were more concentrated among those with lower incomes. The concentration indices of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), arthritis, chronic bronchitis, migraine and poor SAH were -0.180 (95% CI = -0.241,-0.111), -0.126 (95% CI = -0.148,-0.105),-0.118 (95%CI = -0.149,-0.079), -0.248(95%CI = (-0.278,-0.219) respectively. Of all chronic diseases, COPD demonstrated the highest relative inequality with a RII value of 2.51 (95%CI: 1.57-4.01). Income was the major contributor to inequality in occurrence of COPD (88.2%), migraine (80.4%) and arthritis (77.7%).

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that majority of chronic diseases were more concentrated among less wealthy individuals in Turkey. Wealth and education had the largest contributions to observed inequalities. These inequalities need to be explicitly addressed and vulnerable subgroups should be targeted to reduce these socioeconomic disparities.