Multimorbidity in a prospective cohort: prevalence and associations with weight loss and health status in severely obese patients

Abstract

Objective: To examine the prevalence of multimorbidity (≥2 chronic conditions) in severely obese patients and its associations with weight loss and health status over 2 years.

Methods: In a prospective cohort including 500 severely obese adults, self-reported prevalence of 20 chronic conditions was calculated at baseline and 2 years. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to test the covariate-adjusted associations between ≥5% weight reduction and reduction in multimorbidity and the association between health status (visual analogue scale [VAS]) and reduction in multimorbidity over 2 years.

Results: After 2 years, mean weight change was -12.9 ±18.7 kg, 53% had ≥5% weight reduction, mean change in VAS was 11.5 ± 21.2, and 53.5% had ≥10% increase in VAS. Multimorbidity was reported in 95.4% and 92.8% patients at baseline and 2 years, respectively. Weight loss (≥5%) over 2 years was associated with reduction in multimorbidity (adjusted OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.7). Reduction in multimorbidity was associated with clinically important improvements (≥10% increase in VAS) in health status (adjusted OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.6, 4.0).

Conclusions: Multimorbidity is common in severely obese patients. Having ≥5% weight reduction over 2 years was associated with a reduction in multimorbidity, which was also associated with improvements in health status.